Mesenteric artery ischemia

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Mesenteric artery ischemia

Alternative Names:

Mesenteric Vascular Disease

Symptoms:

Chronic mesenteric ischemia caused by atherosclerosis is commonly associated with chronic abdominal pain after eating, and occasionally, diarrhea. Acute mesenteric ischemia due to an embolus is frequently associated with sudden-onset severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Signs and tests:

Laboratory tests may show an elevated white blood cell (WBC) count and acidosis in the case of acute mesenteric ischemia. A CT scan may show abnormalities of the vessels and the intestine. A mesenteric angiogram, a test in which dye is injected into the arteries of the intestine and x-rayed, is usually done. This can reveal the location of the blockage in the artery.

Review Date: 7/14/2004
Reviewed By: Norman S. Kato, MD, Surgeon with the Cardiac Care Medical Group, Encino, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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