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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffCommon signs and symptoms of ischemic colitis include:
- Abdominal pain, tenderness or cramping, usually localized to the lower left side of your abdomen; the onset can be sudden or gradual
- Low-grade fever
- Bright red or maroon-colored blood in your stool or, at times, passage of blood without stool
- A feeling of urgency to move your bowels
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
The risk of severe complications from ischemic colitis increases when signs and symptoms affect the right side of your abdomen.
The arteries that feed the right side of your colon also feed part of your small intestine. When blood flow is blocked on the right side of your colon, it's likely that part of your small intestine also isn't receiving adequate blood supply. Additional signs and symptoms of problems in the small intestine involve pain in the upper abdomen that comes on after eating and is severe enough to cause you to avoid food and lose weight.
Blocked blood flow to the small intestine may quickly lead to death of intestinal tissue (infarction or necrosis). If this life-threatening situation occurs, you'll need surgery to clear the blockage and to remove the portion of the intestine that has died.
When to see a doctor
Contact your doctor if you develop signs and symptoms of ischemic colitis, such as bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent serious complications from this condition.
