Intestinal ischemia and infarction

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Digestive system

Blood supply of the large intestine

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Intestinal ischemia and infarction

Alternative Names:

Intestinal necrosis; Ischemic bowel; Dead bowel; Dead gut

Symptoms:

The hallmark of intestinal ischemia is abdominal pain. Vomiting, diarrhea, and in some cases, fever, are also seen.

Signs and tests:

Laboratory tests may show an elevated white blood cell (WBC) count (a marker of infection) and increased acid in the bloodstream. A CT scan (special x-ray) of the abdomen may show abnormalities of the intestine.

An angiogram may be obtained. In this study, dye is injected into the arteries that supply the intestine, and x-rays are taken to show the location of the arterial blockage. None of these tests is foolproof, however, and sometimes the only sure way to diagnose ischemic bowel is with exploratory surgery.

Review Date: 7/15/2004
Reviewed By: Hebe Molmenti, M.D., Ph.D., Private Practice specializing in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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