Ischemic colitis

A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Digestive system organs

Colonic ischemia

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 gangrene is treated with:

• Antibiotics
• Replacement of blood volume
• Surgery to remove the affected bowel area

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.

• Gangrene of the bowel
• Hole in the intestine (perforation)
• Inflammation of the lining of the abdomen (peritonitis)
• Sepsis

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of ischemic colitis.

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).

---

---