- Main symptoms
- How to confirm the diagnosis
- How the treatment is done
- Sequelae of intestinal infarction
- Possible causes of intestinal infarction
Most intestinal infarctions happen when an artery, which carries blood to the small or large intestine, is blocked by a clot and prevents the passage of blood with oxygen to the places that are after the clot, leading to the death of that part of the intestine and generating symptoms such as severe belly pain, vomiting and fever, for example.
In addition, bowel infarction can also occur in a vein in the mesentery region, which is the membrane that holds the intestine. When this happens, blood cannot get out of the intestine to the liver and, therefore, blood with oxygen cannot continue to circulate in the intestine, resulting in the same consequences as an artery infarction.
Intestinal infarction is curable, but it is an emergency situation and, therefore, if there is suspicion, it is very important to go quickly to the emergency room, to confirm the diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment, in order to prevent a large portion of the intestine is affected.
Main symptoms
The most frequent symptoms in the case of bowel infarction include:
- Severe abdominal pain, which worsens over time; Feeling of bloating in the belly; Nausea and vomiting; Fever above 38ºC; Diarrhea with blood in the stool.
These symptoms may appear suddenly or develop slowly over several days, depending on the size of the region affected by the ischemia and the severity of the obstruction.
Thus, if there is a very severe abdominal pain or that does not improve after 3 hours it is very important to go to the hospital to identify what the problem is and start the appropriate treatment, since it may be an intestinal infarction.
How to confirm the diagnosis
To make the diagnosis of intestinal infarction, the doctor may order several tests such as angiographic magnetic resonance, angiography, abdominal computed tomography, ultrasound, X-ray, blood tests and even endoscopy or colonoscopy, to ensure that the symptoms are not being caused by others digestive tract problems, such as ulcers or appendicitis, for example.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for bowel infarction can begin with percutaneous arterial catheterization and hemodynamic stabilization, or with surgery to remove the clot and restore blood circulation in the affected vessel, in addition to removing the entire intestine portion that has been removed. affected.
Before surgery, the doctor may stop using medications that may be constricting blood vessels, such as migraine drugs, to treat heart disease and even some types of hormones.
In some cases, it may still be necessary to take antibiotics before and after surgery to prevent the development of infections in the affected intestine.
Sequelae of intestinal infarction
One of the most common sequelae of ischemia in the intestine is the need to have an ostomy. This is because, depending on the amount of intestine removed, the surgeon may not be able to reconnect the intestine to the anus and, therefore, it is necessary to make a connection directly to the skin of the belly, allowing the stool to escape into a small pouch.
In addition, with bowel removal, the person also has short bowel syndrome which, depending on the part removed, causes difficulty in the absorption of some vitamins and minerals, and it is important to adapt the diet. See more about this syndrome and how the diet should be.
Possible causes of intestinal infarction
Although intestinal infarction is a very rare condition, there is an increased risk in people:
- Over 60 years old; With high cholesterol levels; With ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or diverticulitis; Male; With Neoplasms; Who have undergone abdominal surgery; With cancer in the digestive system.
In addition, women who use the birth control pill or who are pregnant also have an increased risk of clots due to hormonal changes, so they may develop a case of infarction in the intestine.
