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| '''Mesenteric ischemia''' (Mesenteric ischaemia - British English) is a medical condition in which inflammation and injury of the small intestine result from inadequate blood supply.<ref name="pmid10784596">{{cite journal |author=Brandt LJ, Boley SJ |title=AGA technical review on intestinal ischemia. American Gastrointestinal Association |journal=Gastroenterology |volume=118 |issue=5 |pages=954-68 |year=2000 |pmid=10784596|url=http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/PIIS0016508500701831/fulltext}}</ref><ref name="pmid10784595">{{cite journal |author=American Gastroenterological Association |title=American Gastroenterological Association Medical Position Statement: guidelines on intestinal ischemia |journal=Gastroenterology |volume=118 |issue=5 |pages=951-3 |year=2000 |pmid=10784595|url=http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/PIIS001650850070182X/fulltext}} http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=15&doc_id=3069&nbr=2295</ref>. Causes of the reduced blood flow can include changes in the systemic circulation (e.g. [[hypotension|low blood pressure]]) or local factors such as [[vasoconstriction|constriction of blood vessels]] or a [[blood clot]]. It is more common in the elderly<ref name="pmid11432300">{{cite journal | author = Greenwald D, Brandt L, Reinus J | title = Ischemic bowel disease in the elderly. | journal = Gastroenterol Clin North Am | volume = 30 | issue = 2 | pages = 445-73 | year = 2001 | id = PMID 11432300}}</ref><ref name="pmid9146714">{{cite journal |author=McKinsey JF, Gewertz BL |title=Acute mesenteric ischemia |journal=Surg. Clin. North Am. |volume=77 |issue=2 |pages=307-18 |year=1997 |pmid=9146714}}</ref>.
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| ==Diagnosis==
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| It is important to differentiate [[ischemic colitis]], which often resolves on its own, from the more immediately life-threatening condition of acute mesenteric ischemia of the [[small bowel]].
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| ===Signs and symptoms===
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| Three progressive phases of [[ischemic colitis]] have been described:<ref>Boley, SJ, Brandt, LJ, Veith, FJ. Ischemic disorders of the intestines. Curr Probl Surg 1978; 15:1.</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = Hunter G, Guernsey J | title = Mesenteric ischemia. | journal = Med Clin North Am | volume = 72 | issue = 5 | pages = 1091-115 | year = 1988 | id = PMID 3045452}}</ref>
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| *A ''hyperactive'' phase occurs first, in which the primary symptoms are severe [[abdominal pain]] and the passage of bloody stools. Many patients get better and do not progress beyond this phase.
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| *A ''paralytic'' phase can follow if ischemia continues; in this phase, the [[abdominal pain]] becomes more widespread, the belly becomes more tender to the touch, and bowel [[motility]] decreases, resulting in abdominal bloating, no further bloody stools, and absent bowel sounds on exam.
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| *Finally, a ''[[shock]]'' phase can develop as fluids start to leak through the damaged colon lining. This can result in [[Shock (medical)|shock]] and [[metabolic acidosis]] with [[dehydration]], [[hypotension|low blood pressure]], [[tachycardia|rapid heart rate]], and confusion. Patients who progress to this phase are often critically ill and require [[intensive care]].
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| Symptoms of mesenteric ischemia vary and can be acute (especially if embolic)<ref name="pmid15159262">{{cite journal |author=Oldenburg WA, Lau LL, Rodenberg TJ, Edmonds HJ, Burger CD |title=Acute mesenteric ischemia: a clinical review |journal=Arch. Intern. Med. |volume=164 |issue=10 |pages=1054-62 |year=2004 |pmid=15159262 | doi=10.1001/archinte.164.10.1054}}</ref>, subacute, or chronic<ref name="pmid2691119">{{cite journal |author=Font VE, Hermann RE, Longworth DL |title=Chronic mesenteric venous thrombosis: difficult diagnosis and therapy |journal=Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine |volume=56 |issue=8 |pages=823-8 |year=1989 |pmid=2691119}}</ref>.
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| Case series report prevalence of clinical findings and provide the best available, yet biased, estimate of the sensitivity of clinical findings<ref name="pmid2321134">{{cite journal |author=Levy PJ, Krausz MM, Manny J |title=Acute mesenteric ischemia: improved results--a retrospective analysis of ninety-two patients |journal=Surgery |volume=107 |issue=4 |pages=372-80 |year=1990 |pmid=2321134}}</ref><ref name="pmid11877691">{{cite journal |author=Park WM, Gloviczki P, Cherry KJ, Hallett JW, Bower TC, Panneton JM, Schleck C, Ilstrup D, Harmsen WS, Noel AA |title=Contemporary management of acute mesenteric ischemia: Factors associated with survival |journal=J. Vasc. Surg. |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=445-52 |year=2002 |pmid=11877691|doi=10.1067/mva.2002.120373 }}</ref>. In a series of 58 patients with mesenteric ischemia due to mixed causes<ref name="pmid11877691">.</ref>:
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| * [[abdominal pain]] was present in 95% (median of 24 hours duration). The other three patients presented with shock and [[metabolic acidosis]].
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| * [[nausea]] in 44%
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| * [[vomiting]] in 35%
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| * [[diarrhea]] in 35%
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| * [[heart rate]] > 100 in 33%
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| * 'blood per rectum' in 16% (not stated if this number also included [[occult blood]] - presumably not)
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| * [[constipation]] 7%
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| In the absence of adequate quantitative studies to guide diagnosis, various heuristics help guide diagnosis:
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| * Mesenteric ischemia "''should be suspected when individuals, especially those at high risk for acute mesenteric ischemia, develop severe and persisting abdominal pain that is disproportionate to their abdominal findings''"<ref name="pmid10784595">.</ref>
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| * Regarding mesenteric arterial thrombosis or embolism: "''...early symptoms are present and are relative mild in 50% of cases for three to four days before medical attention is sought''"<ref name="isbn019517545X">Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen by Zachary Cope and William Silen (2005) - Oxford University Press, USA ISBN 019517545X</ref>.
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| * Regarding mesenteric arterial thrombosis or embolism: "''Any patient with an arrhythmia such as auricular fibrillation who complains of abdominal pain is hghly suspected of having embolization to the superior mesenteric artery until proved otherwise''"<ref name="isbn019517545X">.</ref>.
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| * Regarding nonocclusive intestinal ischemia: "''Any patient who takes digitalis and diuretics and who complains of abdominal pain must be considered to have nonocclusive ischemia until proved otherwise''"<ref name="isbn019517545X">.</ref>.
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| ==References==
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| <references/>
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