General Information About Mesenteric Ischemia
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the intestinal equivalent of what a heart attack does to the heart and a stroke does to the brain. It is a clinical presentation where the intestine is deprived of blood supply (remains without oxygen) due to the blockage of the vessels feeding the intestines.
The most common cause is a blood clot (embolism) originating from a heart with a rhythm disorder (Atrial Fibrillation) dislodging and blocking the mesenteric vessel. Additionally, chronic arteriosclerosis (atherosclerosis) can narrow and occlude the vessel over time.
The most typical symptom is that although not much is felt when the abdomen is palpated, the patient experiences intense, agonizing abdominal pain non-responsive to painkillers (pain out of proportion to physical findings).
If blood flow cannot be restored within the first 6 hours after the vessel is blocked, the intestines undergo gangrene. The necrotic intestine perforates, and the stool/bacteria inside spread into the abdominal cavity (sepsis), causing fatal shock.
The site of occlusion in the vessels and the edema/loss of viability in the intestinal wall are detected via a rapidly performed Contrast-Enhanced Abdominal Tomography or CT Angiography.
It is a complete race against time. If caught early, the vessel is opened via angiography using intravascular clot-dissolving medications or stenting. If the intestine has begun to undergo necrosis, the blackened (dead) segment of the intestine is surgically removed (Resection) via open surgery.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
