Intestinal Ischemia and Infarction

Mesenteric ischemia comprises a series of pathologies where that results in an inadequate blood supply of the digestive tract. The different forms and manifestations of intestinal ischemia are dependent on various factors: the location of the intestine involved, the length of time that the tissues remain ischemic, underlying disease, comorbidities, the extent of hypoxic insult and the physio-pathologic response of the tissues affected. It is possible to distinguish between the acute and chronic forms of intestinal ischemia. Additionally, the location of the involved intestine determines the clinical diagnosis, with involvement of small intestine, arising predominantly from mesenteric ischemia, or of colon, leading to ischemic colitis.