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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffComplications of intestinal ischemia can include:
- Death of intestinal tissue, if blood flow to your intestine is completely blocked. Surgery is needed to clear the blockage and to remove the damaged tissue if this life-threatening situation occurs. Your surgeon may be able to reconnect healthy parts of the intestine. If that isn't possible, you may need an ostomy, a procedure that connects the colon to an opening (stoma) outside your body. Bowel movements that would normally have evacuated through the rectum are collected in a waste bag that attaches at the stoma.
- Narrowing of the colon, if ischemia causes scar tissue to form. Surgery may be needed to remove the damaged portion of the intestine. The healthy portions may be connected or you may need an ostomy.
References
- Feldman M, et al. Sleisinger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathology, Diagnosis, Management. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookHome&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&uniq=200844987-3. Accessed June 19, 2012.
- Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html. Accessed June 19, 2012.
- Catheter angiography. RadiologyInfo.org. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=angiocath. Accessed June 19, 2012.
- What is atherosclerosis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/. Accessed June 20, 2012.
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