Abstract
The ischemic bowel diseases (IBD) are a heterogeneous group of disorders usually seen in elderly individuals. They represent ischemic damage to different portions of the bowel and, therefore, produce a variety of clinical syndromes and outcomes. Colonic ischemia is the commonest of these disorders and has a favorable prognosis in most cases. In contrast, acute mesenteric ischemia, most commonly caused by a superior mesenteric artery embolus, is a disease with a very poor prognosis. Acute mesenteric ischemia caused by nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia usually is a catastrophic complication of other severe medical illnesses, most notably atherosclerosis. Proper diagnosis and management of patients with IBD require vigilance on the part of the physician and a willingness to embark on an aggressive plan of diagnosis and management in the appropriate setting.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 445-473 |
Number of pages | 29 |
Journal | Gastroenterology clinics of North America |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gastroenterology