EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
Intestinal Ischemia
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This article is in dedication to my dear sweet Aunt Lena May who died from Intestinal Ischemia in just 5 days on July 26th, 2017 at 3:30am. It was quick and with no warning signs. She only knew of a problem when she began to vomit and have chest pains. She was admitted to the hospital on Thursday where they discovered her entire intestines were destroyed and she could not be saved. She was placed in a room to die and death did come quickly. It is our hope that this article will inform others of this rare disease.
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Our lives are precious gifts from God, but they are also so fragile at the same time. It is obvious that like any fragile and precious object, we must preserve our lives with utmost care. Yet, there are circumstances that foil even the best of cares. Few things are beyond our power, and these are the precise things that could vanquish the beautiful gift of life in a snap.
But, are we completely helpless? No, we are not. The right action at the right time could help us combat even the direst of circumstances. Intestinal ischemia is one such condition. Every year, thousands of people die due to blockage in the blood flow in the intestines, |
which leads to excruciating pain and death. The sad part is that most lives are lost without even a proper diagnosis. Intestinal ischemia, being a rare condition, is not known to many, which is the reason behind the ignorance. But in this case, ignorance could lead to the loss of your loved ones. It is always better to be safe than sorry. So, let’s take a deeper look at this disease and how to combat it.
What is Intestinal Ischemia?
Intestinal Ischemia is a serious medical condition that occurs due to the reduction of blood flow to one's gastrointestinal tract. In Aunt Lena May's condition, we are not sure why she had this and possibly from the medicine she was given for her blindness.
The insufficient blood flow might be the result of:
Intestinal Ischemia is a serious medical condition that occurs due to the reduction of blood flow to one's gastrointestinal tract. In Aunt Lena May's condition, we are not sure why she had this and possibly from the medicine she was given for her blindness.
The insufficient blood flow might be the result of:
- A blocked artery (atherosclerosis): One of the very common causes of Intestinal ischemia is building up of cholesterol deposits on the sidewalls of an artery containing oxygenated blood. Diet apparently is a key here. Aunt Lena May's Diet was not the best. She was blind and relied on her sons to feed her. We highly suggest the Dr. Sebi Vegan Diet to be one that is best.
- An extremely low blood pressure (hypotension): A constant low blood pressure further reduces the blood flow capacity of the arteries leading to the same.
- Hernia: A tangled/ displaced intestinal tract can also cutoff the blood flow thereby causing Intestinal ischemia.
- Shock/ trauma: Shock or trauma is one of the most unusual causes of Intestinal ischemia in which the affected might suddenly form a blockage in the intestines.
- Usage of cocaine/methamphetamine: Studies have revealed that the intake of cocaine/meth cuts down oxygen supply from blood and might prove to be one of the slow causes of Intestinal Ischemia deaths.
Symptoms
One of the very reasons why Intestinal Ischemia claims unaware victims every year is due to the lack of any decisive or unique symptoms that might lead to correct diagnosis. Though there are no standard symptoms as such and they are completely dependent on one's severity to the disorder, some very common ones could be as follows:
One of the very reasons why Intestinal Ischemia claims unaware victims every year is due to the lack of any decisive or unique symptoms that might lead to correct diagnosis. Though there are no standard symptoms as such and they are completely dependent on one's severity to the disorder, some very common ones could be as follows:
- Pain in the lower abdominal region: Intestinal Ischemia is often characterized by a mild-to-moderate pain in the lower abdomen region. The affected abdominal area might/ might not be tender to touch.
- Flatulence: Accumulation of intestinal gas in the gastrointestinal tract might be one of the possibilities, thereby resulting in a bulged belly.
- Frequent bowel movement: Continual bowel movements with severe abdominal pain normally suggest that the disease has stepped up to the next, more severe level.
- Constant feeling of nausea or vomiting
- Rectal Bleeding:Blood in the stool is one of the very common symptoms in case of Intestinal Ischemia, often accompanied by nagging pain in the lower abdominal region.
- Loss of appetite:A person might avoid eating altogether in the hopes of minimizing the pain. This might lead to a considerable weight loss.
Treatments
Early stages of Intestinal Ischemia can only be visible through proper diagnosis. The treatment is symptomatic i.e. purely dependent on the symptoms. Be it a medical or a surgical treatment, the basic aim, however, remains the same, that is, to facilitate the right amount of blood flow to the intestinal tract. The treatment can be broadly categorized for the following two types of intestinal ischemia on the basis of the procedure involved:
1. Non-Occlusive Intestinal Ischemia:
A medical treatment is given an upper-hand over surgical treatments in case of the absence of cholesterol on the artery walls. As already mentioned, the medical treatment depends entirely on the symptoms, as faced by the subject while treating the underlying medical condition.
In the non-occlusive intestinal ischemia, antibiotics are used in order to dissolve the existing blood clots whilst preventing the formation of a new one. Holistic treatment for the condition includemethods such as a weight loss program (if overweight), exercise or yoga to bring into effect a healthy lifestyle, or conventional medicinal drugs to improve blood circulation.
The aftermath of non-occlusive treatment is quite simplesince it demands only regular check-ups with the concerned doctor. The lack of surgery allows the person to be up-and-running in almost no time.
2. Occlusive Intestinal Ischemia:
Medicinal treatment can do no good in this type of Intestinal Ischemia. Hence, the surgical process of removing the concerned dead tissues comes into play. Thistreatment requires a surgical process focusing on removal of the dead segments/cholesterol deposits in the first operation, followed by revascularization in the form of either bypass or angioplasty.
Angioplasty involves widening of the arteries carrying oxygenated blood. The process consists of carefully inserting a deflated balloon via a balloon catheter, all the way to the narrowed artery and then inflatingit to a predetermined size. The force caused by inflation of the balloon allows for an improved blood circulation through the artery.
Early stages of Intestinal Ischemia can only be visible through proper diagnosis. The treatment is symptomatic i.e. purely dependent on the symptoms. Be it a medical or a surgical treatment, the basic aim, however, remains the same, that is, to facilitate the right amount of blood flow to the intestinal tract. The treatment can be broadly categorized for the following two types of intestinal ischemia on the basis of the procedure involved:
1. Non-Occlusive Intestinal Ischemia:
A medical treatment is given an upper-hand over surgical treatments in case of the absence of cholesterol on the artery walls. As already mentioned, the medical treatment depends entirely on the symptoms, as faced by the subject while treating the underlying medical condition.
In the non-occlusive intestinal ischemia, antibiotics are used in order to dissolve the existing blood clots whilst preventing the formation of a new one. Holistic treatment for the condition includemethods such as a weight loss program (if overweight), exercise or yoga to bring into effect a healthy lifestyle, or conventional medicinal drugs to improve blood circulation.
The aftermath of non-occlusive treatment is quite simplesince it demands only regular check-ups with the concerned doctor. The lack of surgery allows the person to be up-and-running in almost no time.
2. Occlusive Intestinal Ischemia:
Medicinal treatment can do no good in this type of Intestinal Ischemia. Hence, the surgical process of removing the concerned dead tissues comes into play. Thistreatment requires a surgical process focusing on removal of the dead segments/cholesterol deposits in the first operation, followed by revascularization in the form of either bypass or angioplasty.
Angioplasty involves widening of the arteries carrying oxygenated blood. The process consists of carefully inserting a deflated balloon via a balloon catheter, all the way to the narrowed artery and then inflatingit to a predetermined size. The force caused by inflation of the balloon allows for an improved blood circulation through the artery.
Risks Involved in Treating Intestinal Ischemia
With the advancement of medicinal Science, we have a cure for almost every disease. However, late diagnosis of certain disorders may have lethal effects. Such is the case with Intestinal Ischemia. Intestinal Ischemia, if not treated in its infancy, can have some serious effects on the body like:
With the advancement of medicinal Science, we have a cure for almost every disease. However, late diagnosis of certain disorders may have lethal effects. Such is the case with Intestinal Ischemia. Intestinal Ischemia, if not treated in its infancy, can have some serious effects on the body like:
- Perforation of the intestinal tract:
Development of a hole in the intestinal walls is one of the long-term effects of Intestinal Ischemia and may, in turn, lead to 'peritonitis' (a condition manifested by acute abdominal pain and tenderness). Peritonitis may lead to seeping in of the acidic digestive juices into the intestinal tracts and damage them all the way more.
- Intestinal Necrosis:
In such severe cases, the intestine is no longer able to perform its functions due to the complete cutoff of blood flow. As you might have guessed, the absence of blood flow in the intestines is the last thing you would want.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes fever too. - Scarring of the colon:
Early diagnosis may save one from this dangerous effect. Colon scarring is particularly dangerous because such adhesions cannot be seen through normal imaging techniques like X-rays or Ultrasound. Hence, the need for an early diagnosis is of paramount importance.
Such abrasions may slowly lead to the death of the gastrointestinal tract. - Narrowing of the intestinal tracts:
Intestinal ischemia might lead to contractions in the intestines, which makes the flow of blood even more difficult. As such, the intestines may continue to be unable to have normal blood flow even after treatment. - Death:
Intestinal ischemia is a fatal condition, which can very well lead to death if not treated in time. In fact, thousands of patients lose their lives every year due to delay in treatment of this condition.
Conclusion:
Despite all our progress and technologies, we are still tiny humans in the grand scheme of things. We cannot succeed every time, but that should not mean that we cannot try. Intestinal ischemia is an unfortunate condition that could happen to anyone, so a careful eye on the health of your loved ones and self can go a long way in combating this illness. Like I said, life is a precious gift. It is our duty to preserve it at any cost. One could only hope that this information might help someone who needs it, but it would mean the world to me.
Rest in Peace Sweet Aunt Lena May. May Allah bring peace and wonderful to you in the next life.
Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001151.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/intestinal-ischemia/basics/treatment/con-20023818
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesenteric_ischemia
Despite all our progress and technologies, we are still tiny humans in the grand scheme of things. We cannot succeed every time, but that should not mean that we cannot try. Intestinal ischemia is an unfortunate condition that could happen to anyone, so a careful eye on the health of your loved ones and self can go a long way in combating this illness. Like I said, life is a precious gift. It is our duty to preserve it at any cost. One could only hope that this information might help someone who needs it, but it would mean the world to me.
Rest in Peace Sweet Aunt Lena May. May Allah bring peace and wonderful to you in the next life.
Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001151.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/intestinal-ischemia/basics/treatment/con-20023818
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesenteric_ischemia