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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffSigns and symptoms of intestinal ischemia may develop suddenly (acute) or gradually over time (chronic).
Symptoms of acute intestinal ischemia
- Sudden abdominal pain that may range from mild to severe
- An urgent need to have a bowel movement
- Frequent, forceful bowel movements
- Tenderness or swelling in the abdomen
- Blood in your stool
- Nausea or vomiting or both
- Fever
Symptoms of chronic intestinal ischemia
- Abdominal cramps or fullness, beginning within 30 minutes after eating and lasting one to three hours
- Abdominal pain that gets progressively worse over weeks or months
- Fear of eating because of subsequent pain
- Unintended weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Nausea or vomiting or both
- Bloating
Chronic intestinal ischemia can progress to an acute episode. If this occurs, you may experience severe abdominal pain following weeks or months of intermittent pain after eating.
When to see a doctor
Seek immediate medical care if you have sudden, severe abdominal pain. Abdominal pain that makes you so uncomfortable that you can't sit still or find a comfortable position is a medical emergency.
If you have other signs or symptoms that concern you, make an appointment with your doctor.
- 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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