December 2, 2020

REBEL Core Cast 45.0 – Mesenteric Ischemia

Take Home Points

• Be sure to consider mesenteric ischemia in any elderly patient with abdominal pain or lower gastrointestinal (GI) complaints.  Remember, the presentation can be tricky to find and they may have a reassuring abdominal exam.
• Ask about artherosclerotic risk factors, history of cardiovascular disease including atrial fibrillation and prior embolic events, and a history of intestinal angina to help clue you in to the diagnosis.
• Lab abnormalities could include leukocytosis, lactemia or elevated d-dimer.  But normal labs cannot exclude this disease.
• The money is in the CTA.  Get it as fast as possible because time is bowel.
• Consult your surgeons and interventional radiologists eary, because again TIME IS BOWEL