What are the symptoms of acute mesenteric ischemia?
Early signs and symptoms of acute mesenteric ischemia include: • Severe abdominal pain, concentrated in one area of the abdomen • Nausea and/or vomiting • Bloody stools • History of chronic atrial fibrillation or cardiovascular disease How is acute mesenteric ischemia diagnosed? An arteriogram is used to diagnosis acute mesenteric ischemia. An arteriogram is an invasive test of the blood vessels in which dye is injected and x-ray pictures are obtained. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans and chest X-rays, as well as other tests, may be performed first to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms, such as a bowel obstruction. How is acute mesenteric ischemia treated? Emergency surgery may be performed to remove the blood clot (embolectomy) or bypass the blocked vessel and restore blood flow to the intestines. The surgeon may use autologous bypass grafts (patient’s own blood vessels) or artificial grafts. In some cases, the surgeon may need to remove a portion of the
