Intestinal ischemia is damage to the intestine due to decreased blood flow, caused by a variety of medical conditions. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If not treated properly, it can lead to serious complications and even death. Surgery or a colostomy may be necessary in severe cases.
Intestinal ischemia is a medical term that describes damage to the intestine due to decreased blood flow. Both the large and small intestines can be affected by ischemia from a variety of other medical conditions and disorders. It can be extremely painful, cause serious complications, and even prove fatal if not treated properly.
Intestinal ischemia rarely occurs on its own. Injuries to the intestines, such as a hernia or scar tissue from surgery, can damage them and lead to constriction of blood flow. Blood clots are also common causes of ischemia of the intestine. Sometimes a clot in the heart can travel along the bloodstream before lodged in an artery that supplies blood to the intestines. This is more likely in individuals who have previously had heart attacks or other heart conditions. Thrombosis, a condition that narrows the body’s arteries and/or veins, can also restrict blood flow to the large or small intestine and lead to blood flow problems. Low blood pressure, bowel disease and digestive system cancers can also lead to cases of intestinal ischemia.
The main symptom of intestinal ischemia is abdominal pain which is usually very severe and does not go away. Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are also common symptoms of the condition. Blood can be found in the stool and bowel movements can require extreme force. Sometimes eating can make the condition even worse. Abdominal cramps and bloating after a meal are another common side effect of intestinal ischemia.
Intestinal ischemia is a serious condition that can lead to dangerous complications. Decreased blood flow to the intestines can cause permanent damage to the intestines and even death. With dead tissue in the intestines, the only treatment is surgery. In these cases, the dead and damaged tissue is removed from the intestine and the surgeon must attempt to connect all the still healthy parts of the intestine together. Severe tissue damage or death in the gut can make this impossible.
In these cases, a colostomy is the only option available. This requires a hole to be made in the patient’s abdomen and the sound end of the intestine to be attached directly to this hole. A pouch, usually called a colostomy bag, is attached to the other side, and waste flows directly into it. Because of the negative connotations associated with this procedure, it is usually only done as a last resort.
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