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Acerca de
Mesenteric Artery Ischemia
A painful condition of the small intestine
Overview
Mesenteric ischemia is poor circulation in the vessels supplying blood flow to your mesenteric organs: your stomach, liver, colon and intestine. With poor circulation, blockages can form and compromise the function of these organs. This can be either acute or chronic.
Symptoms
If you are suffering from mesenteric ischemia, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms...
Sudden, Severe Stomach Pain
Severe Stomach Pain After Eating
Weight Loss
Causes
Acute MI is commonly caused by a blood clot, blocking the flow of one of the mesenteric arteries. Chronic MI is frequently due to atherosclerosis, slowing the amount of blood flowing through the artery. As plaque builds along the blood vessel walls, the artery can narrow and stiffen, eventually reducing blood flow or completely blocking the arteries. Some risk factors are...
Age (Especially 60+)
Being Female
Personal History of Smoking, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Disease, or Diabetes
Diagnosis
To diagnose MI, you should see a vascular specialist. In conjunction with a physical exam and review of your medical history, they will likely recommend you get one or more of the following tests to aid in the diagnosis: a Doppler Ultrasound, a CT angiogram, or an angiogram.
Treatment
To treat MI, the goal is to reopen the artery to allow adequate blood flow to your intestine. The specific treatment plan may differ depending on the severity of your case. Generally, acute cases are an emergency procedure since severe intentional damage can occur rapidly. If found early, your vascular surgeon may recommend thrombolytic therapy and an angiogram. If there is evidence of intestinal damage or too little time is available, surgery may be required to restore blood flow. There may also be a chance that some damaged portion of your intestine may be removed, though that decision will often be made with consultation of other specialties. In chronic cases, minimally invasive endovascular treatment has become the first-line approach. Balloon angioplasty and stenting are sometimes performed at the same time as a diagnostic angiogram as to avoid a second procedure. If you are not a good candidate for angioplasty and stenting, bypass surgery will oftentimes be recommended.
Visit Society of Vascular Surgery for more information.
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