Ischemic colitis

Background

Intestinal Ischemic Disorder Types

Clinical Features

  • Consider ischemic colitis as the possible cause of acute-onset abdominal pain with rectal bleeding in patients age 50 and older with cardiovascular morbidities.[1]

Differential Diagnosis

Colitis

Diffuse Abdominal pain

Evaluation

Workup

  • CTA (first-line imaging)[2]

Diagnosis

Management

  • Antibiotics, if the patient has any of the factors associated with severe disease.[3]
  • Emergent surgical consultation for:[4]
    • Peritoneal signs
    • Pneumatosis coli
    • Portal venous gas
    • Pan-colonic distribution, or
    • Isolated right-colon ischemia on imaging

Disposition

See Also

External Links

References