Ischemic colitis

• Insufficient blood supply to a segment or the entire colon.
• Different severities up to full-thickness transmural necrosis.
• Mainly a disease of elderly

Causes:

• Atheroma of mesenteric vessels.
• Other causes: include embolic disease, vasculitis, fibromuscular hyperplasia, aortic aneurysm, blunt abdominal trauma, disseminated intravascular coagulation, irradiation, and hypovolemic or endotoxic shock.

Watershed area of the colon:

• Areas vulnerable to ischemia
• Two locations

• Occlusive (90% mortality)
• Venous infarction occurs in young patients usually after abdominal surgery.

Presentation:

• Colicky abdominal pain, which becomes continuous.
• Vomiting, diarrhea, or rectal bleeding.