Narrowing of the arteries (blood vessels) that supply the body’s stomach and intestines

There are two types

• Acute mesenteric ischemia-Sudden block typically caused by a clot and can be immediately life-threatening.
• Chronic mesenteric ischemia-Related to atherosclerosis with a slower onset over many years.

Three main arteries that supply blood to your small and large intestine known as the Coeliac trunk; Superior Mesenteric Artery and the Inferior Mesenteric artery.

Causes of Mesenteric Artery Ischemia?

• ACUTE – blood clot suddenly blocks blood flow.  These clots often originate in the heart and are more common among patients with an irregular heartbeat or heart disease.
• CHRONIC-  atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) slows the amount of blood flowing

Symptoms

Acute – Sudden severe abdominal pain

CHRONIC- severe stomach pain 15–60 minutes after eating. Pain may last for as long as 2 hours and Recur with every meal Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or flatulence.Fear of food (Food fright) may develop due to pain. Unintentional Weight Loss

Diagnosis

A computed tomography (CT) scan is the test of choice. A CT Angiogram creates detailed three-dimensional images of cross-sections of your body. These images can identify problems with your arteries or with your abdominal organs.

Treatment

The goal of treatment -to re-open the artery to allow adequate blood flow to your intestine so it will work properly. Must be accomplished before permanent damage is done.

In Acute Cases

• Usually an emergency procedure since severe intestinal damage can occur rapidly.
• Open surgery- to remove clot and look for damage to the intestines and assess its viability
• Clot aspiration- new minimally invasive modality where clot is sucked out using negative pressure
• Thrombolytic therapy- to dissolve the clot , strong blood thinners given directly into the artery during an angiogram

In Chronic Cases

• Minimally invasive endovascular treatment
• first-line approach in most instances
• Balloon angioplasty and stenting
• Bypass surgery- creates a detour around the narrowed or blocked section of the affected artery. To create the detour, one of your veins or a synthetic tube is used as a graft, sewn-in above and below the blocked area to restore adequate blood flow to your intestines.

Staying Healthy

• Follow a heart-healthy diet.
• Avoid smoking.
• Exercise regularly.
• Stay hydrated.
• Manage chronic medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney failure and heart disease.