Mesenteric Vascular Disease
Symptoms
Symptoms of long-term (chronic) mesenteric artery ischemia caused by atherosclerosis:
- Abdominal pain after eating
- Diarrhea
Symptoms of sudden (acute) mesenteric artery ischemia due to a traveling blood clot:
- Diarrhea
- Sudden severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting
Signs and tests
In acute mesenteric ischemia, blood tests may show a higher-than-normal white blood cell (WBC) count and changes in the blood-acid level.
A CT scan may show problems with the blood vessels and the intestine.
A mesenteric angiogram is a test that involves injecting a special dye into your bloodstream to highlight the arteries of an intestine. Then x-rays are taken of the area. This can show the location of the blockage in the artery.
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