Ischemic colitis

Ischemic colitis occurs when blood flow to part of the large intestine (colon) is reduced, usually due to narrowed or blocked blood vessels (arteries). The diminished blood flow doesn't provide enough oxygen for the cells in your digestive system.
Ischemic colitis can cause pain and may damage your colon. Any part of the colon can be affected, but ischemic colitis usually causes pain on the left side of the belly area (abdomen).
The condition can be misdiagnosed because it can easily be confused with other digestive problems. Ischemic colitis may heal on its own. But you may need medication to treat ischemic colitis or prevent infection, or you may need surgery if your colon has been damaged.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of ischemic colitis can include:
  • Pain, tenderness or cramping in your belly, which can occur suddenly or gradually
  • Bright red or maroon-colored blood in your stool or, at times, passage of blood alone without stool
  • A feeling of urgency to move your bowels
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
The risk of severe complications is higher when you have symptoms on the right side of your abdomen. That's because the arteries that feed the right side of your colon also feed part of your small intestine, and may be blocked too. Pain tends to be more severe with this type of ischemic colitis.
Blocked blood flow to the small intestine can quickly lead to death of intestinal tissue (necrosis). If this life-threatening situation occurs, you'll need surgery to clear the blockage and to remove the portion of the intestine that has been damaged.


Causes

The precise cause of diminished blood flow to the colon isn't always clear. But several factors can increase your risk of ischemic colitis:
  • Buildup of fatty deposits on the walls of an artery (atherosclerosis)
  • Dangerously low blood pressure (hypotension) associated with heart failure, major surgery, trauma or shock
  • A blood clot in an artery supplying the colon or, less commonly, in a vein (venous thrombosis)
  • Bowel obstruction caused by a hernia, scar tissue or a tumor
  • Surgery involving the heart or blood vessels, or the digestive or gynecological systems
  • Other medical disorders that affect your blood, such as inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis), lupus or sickle cell anemia
  • Cocaine or methamphetamine use
  • Colon cancer (rare)

Risk factors

Risk factors for ischemic colitis include:
  • Age. The condition occurs mostly frequently in adults older than age 60. Ischemic colitis that occurs in a young adult may be a sign of a blood-clotting abnormality or inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis).
  • Clotting abnormalities. Conditions that affect the way the blood clots, such as Factor V Leiden, may increase the risk of ischemic colitis.
  • High cholesterol, which can lead to atherosclerosis.
  • Reduced blood flow, due to heart failure, low blood pressure and shock.
  • Previous abdominal surgery. Scar tissue that forms after surgery may cause reduced blood flow.
  • Heavy exercise, such as marathon running, which can lead to reduced blood flow to the colon.
  • Surgery involving the large artery (aorta) that pumps blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

Complications

Ischemic colitis usually gets better on its own within two to three days. In more-severe cases, complications can include:
  • Tissue death (gangrene) resulting from diminished blood flow
  • Hole (perforation) in your intestine or persistent bleeding
  • Bowel inflammation (segmented ulcerating colitis)
  • Bowel obstruction (ischemic stricture)



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Colon polyps

Image
A colon polyp is a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon. Most colon polyps are harmless. But over time, some colon polyps can develop into colon cancer, which is often fatal when found in its later stages. There are two main categories of polyps, non-neoplastic and neoplastic. Non-neoplastic polyps include hyperplastic polyps, inflammatory polyps and hamartomatous polyps. These types of polyps typically do not become cancerous. Neoplastic polyps include adenomas and serrated types. In general, the larger a polyp, the greater the risk of cancer, especially with neoplastic polyps. Anyone can develop colon polyps. You're at higher risk if you're 50 or older, are overweight or a smoker, or have a personal or family history of colon polyps or colon cancer. Colon polyps often don't cause symptoms. It's important to have regular screening tests, such as a colonoscopy, because colon polyps found in the early stages can usually be removed safely a...
Read more

Polyhydramnios

Image
Polyhydramnios  is the excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid — the fluid that surrounds the baby in the uterus during pregnancy. Polyhydramnios occurs in about 1 to 2 percent of pregnancies. Most cases of polyhydramnios are mild and result from a gradual buildup of amniotic fluid during the second half of pregnancy. Severe polyhydramnios may cause shortness of breath, preterm labor, Symptoms Polyhydramnios symptoms result from pressure being exerted within the uterus and on nearby organs. Mild polyhydramnios may cause few — if any — signs or symptoms. Severe polyhydramnios may cause: Shortness of breath or the inability to breathe Swelling in the lower extremities and abdominal wall Uterine discomfort or contractions Fetal malposition, such as breech presentation Your health care provider may also suspect polyhydramnios if your uterus is excessively enlarged and he or she has trouble feeling the baby. Causes Some of the known causes of polyhydramnios ...
Read more
Image
Nephrolithiasis • Calcium oxalate (and to some degree calcium phosphate) stones account for 80% of all kidney stones • Remaining stones are uric acid (10%), struvite (10-15%) and cystine (1%) stones • It is possible for patient to have multiple stones and for them to be more than one type of stone Risk Factors • Crystallization occurs when otherwise soluble solutes precipitate due to supersaturation or changes in urinary pH, protein content, or due to reaction with other solutes • Crystals cause epithelial injury, deposition of stone formation, bleeding, obstruction, and pain • Frequently identified risk factors include hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, hypocitraturia, decreased calcium intake, increased oxalate intake, increased animal protein intake, and decreased hydration • There is more than 2-fold increase in risk of kidney stones with positive family hx of kidney stones • Patients with history of kidney stones have a 10-30% 3-5 year recurrence rate • 25% of people with gout will ge...
Read more