Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Colonic ischemia
Treatment
Treatment for mild ischemic colitis often involves:
- Antibiotics
- Liquid diet at first
- Fluids through a vein (by IV)
- Pain medications
Severe ischemic colitis that leads to
- Antibiotics
- Replacement of blood volume
- Surgery to remove the affected bowel area
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
Most cases of ischemic colitis are mild and will improve on their own. They do not need surgical treatment.
The death rate is high when gangrene occurs because there is not enough blood supply.
Complications
- Gangrene of the bowel
- Hole in the intestine (perforation)
- Inflammation of the lining of the abdomen (
peritonitis ) Sepsis
Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of ischemic colitis.
Previous Section
Review Date: 01/20/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Mediicne, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of
Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San
Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
