Ischemic Colitis

Ischemic colitis is inflammation and injury of the large intestine caused by an inadequate blood supply, and it is the most common form of bowel ischemia even though it remains uncommon overall. More than 90 percent of cases occur in people over 60, with men and women affected about equally, and reduced blood flow can come from a body-wide problem such as low blood pressure or a local one such as narrowed or clotted blood vessels, though in most cases no specific cause can be found. It typically causes abdominal pain, often on the left side, and rectal bleeding, and severity ranges widely from mild disease to sepsis and critical illness in the worst cases. Mild to moderate cases usually respond to supportive care such as intravenous fluids and bowel rest, while severe cases complicated by tissue death or a perforated bowel may need surgery and intensive care; most patients recover fully, though severe cases can leave lasting problems such as narrowing of the bowel or ongoing colitis.