10 Facts About Ischemic colitis

Ischemic colitis is a medical condition in which inflammation and injury of the large intestine result from inadequate blood supply.

Ischemic colitis is usually suspected on the basis of the clinical setting, physical examination, and laboratory test results; the diagnosis can be confirmed by endoscopy or by using sigmoid or endoscopic placement of a visible light spectroscopic catheter .

Patients with mild to moderate ischemic colitis are usually treated with IV fluids, analgesia, and bowel rest until the symptoms resolve.

The most common early signs of ischemic colitis include abdominal pain, with mild to moderate amounts of rectal bleeding.

Ischemic colitis is often classified according to the underlying cause.

Ischemic colitis must be differentiated from the many other causes of abdominal pain and rectal bleeding .

Ischemic colitis has a distinctive endoscopic appearance; endoscopy can facilitate alternate diagnoses such as infection or inflammatory bowel disease.

The use of prophylactic antibiotics in ischemic colitis has not been prospectively evaluated in humans, but many authorities recommend their use based on the animal data.

Chronic ischemic colitis is often treated with surgical removal of the chronically diseased portion of the bowel.

Ischemic colitis is responsible for about 1 in 2000 hospital admissions and is seen on about 1 in 100 endoscopies.