From the Research
Diagnosis of Ischemic Colitis
- The diagnosis of ischemic colitis is based on a combination of clinical suspicion, radiographic, endoscopic, and histological findings 1, 2, 3
- Clinical presentation includes abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and mild lower gastrointestinal bleeding 1, 4, 3
- Endoscopic visualization of colonic mucosa with histologic analysis of biopsies is the gold standard for identification of colonic ischemia 1
- Imaging examinations, mainly computerized tomography, can help delineate the distribution pattern and severity of disease 2
Treatment of Ischemic Colitis
- The majority of patients with mild disease have complete clinical recovery within a short period and can be managed nonoperatively 5, 2, 3
- Medical therapy for chronic ischemia has been anecdotally proven but not carefully studied 1
- Surgical resection of the affected segment should be considered early to minimize adverse outcomes in cases of gangrenous colitis or complications such as bowel perforation, peritonitis, or persistent bleeding 5, 1, 4, 3
- Prompt recognition and surgical intervention is critical in patients with gangrenous colitis to improve prognosis 5, 2