How does Mesenteric Ischemia Disease Causes l Dr. Achintya Sharma

Our Service

MESENTERIC ARTERY DISEASE

Mesenteric ischemia is a chronic condition caused by poor blood supply to your intestines. It results from
narrowing in one or more of the arteries supplying blood to your intestines (visceral arteries). It also can
occur suddenly as a result of a blood clot severely restricting blood ow (acute mesenteric ischemia).
Lack of oxygen-rich blood can permanently damage your intestines. You may experience sudden
abdominal pain and, less often, bloody stools. This situation requires immediate medical care.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia occurs gradually as the main visceral arteries narrow. You may develop pain
after eating, lose weight or develop a fear of eating caused by fear of stomach pain.

Mesenteric Ischemia can be considered as an attack on your gut (stomach and intestines) similar to a
heart attack.

It is a disease with blood clot (thrombus) formation and severe narrowing in arteries of stomach and
intestines leading to a sudden reduction in gut blood circulation and death of the stomach/intestinal
cells.

In India, mesenteric ischemia patients are at least a decade younger than those in the western
countries, with overall higher complications & death rate.

IS IT A SERIOUS PROBLEM?

Yes. It is an emergency condition and you must see a quali ed vascular surgeon immediately.

WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?

Mainly two reasons:

1. Clot, pushed out of the heart towards arteries of gut (seen in patients with pre-existing heart
problems)

2. Fresh clot formation at areas of partial blockage (in pre-existing diseased patients)

THE RISK FACTORS Printed with Pdfcrowd.com

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API

THE RISK FACTORS

Age >50 years
Smoking or tobacco chewing (Any age group)
Diabetes Mellitus
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol levels/Obesity
Pre-existing heart disease/valvular heart disease
Those with blood clotting tendencies

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Severe abdominal pain (often abdominal sonography is normal)
Pain worsening after consuming food
Food fear and weight loss
 

Treatment



Surgery

Once it is determined that your stomach pain is caused by blocked intestinal arteries, you may need
surgery. Dr. Srujal Shah performs conventional and minimally invasive procedures to improve blood
ow to your intestines. Surgical options include:

Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that opens narrowed arteries. During an angioplasty,
your surgeon inserts a long, exible tube (catheter) that has a balloon on its tip. The surgeon usually

places a small wire tube (stent) in your artery to keep it open. If you have a blood clot, your doctor
may remove it during your angiogram.

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com

Mesenteric artery bypass

A bypass creates an alternate route for blood to ow around the narrowed or blocked artery. Your
surgeon sews a substitute blood vessel (graft) to a main artery to restore blood ow.

 

  Mesenteric endarterectomy

 

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com

In an endarterectomy,your doctor makes an incision in the large blood vessel that branches o your
heart (aorta) to reach the mesenteric arteries and remove fat and cholesterol buildup (plaques) or the
blood clot blocking the artery.
We treat people who are at high risk for complications during open surgery, such as older people,
using minimally invasive surgery.

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com