Vascular Clinic

What Is Mesenteric Ischemia?

Mesenteric ischemia is a vascular condition in which narrowed or blocked arteries reduce blood flow to the intestines. Chronic mesenteric ischemia causes post-meal abdominal pain and weight loss, while acute mesenteric ischemia is a medical emergency that can lead to bowel death.

This restricted blood flow can result in:

Our Mission: Restoring Digestive Health

We are committed to restoring blood flow to the intestines before irreversible damage occurs. We take every complaint of food-related abdominal pain seriously and act quickly when the signs point to mesenteric ischemia.

Diagnostic Evaluation:

Clinical assessment and symptom history
Mesenteric duplex ultrasound to assess intestinal blood flow
CT angiography to map narrowed or blocked arteries
Catheter-based angiography, often with IVUS
Blood tests to assess malnutrition or ischemic stress (in acute cases)

Treatment Options

Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia:

Lifestyle and dietary counseling
Risk factor management (no smoking, control cholesterol, blood pressure)
Angioplasty and stenting: Opens blocked arteries and restores flow with a short recovery
Surgical bypass: For long or heavily calcified blockages not suitable for stenting

Acute Mesenteric Ischemia:

What to Expect

Most angioplasty and stenting procedures are performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation and are outpatient

Open surgical bypass requires a hospital stay due to the need for an abdominal incision and postoperative monitoring

Abdominal pain, food aversion, and weight loss typically resolve after successful revascularization, and patients often experience improved appetite and weight gain