This shunting of oxygenated blood leaves the superficial mucosa at risk to ischemic damage whenever there is a decrease in vascular perfusion such as occurs during heart failure, shock, sepsis, etc. Mild lesions will show mucosal reddening, hemorrhage and mild edema. Ischemic colitis presents with the sudden onset of bleeding and abdominal pain usually in a patient over 50yrs. The most common problem in differential diagnosis is with inflammatory bowel disease, active phase. Colonic biopsy is usually needed to establish the diagnosis.
Therapy is primarily medical, aimed at restoring adequate circulation.
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