Colonic ischemia.

Our understanding of ischemia and the importance of this disease in the elderly have increased dramatically over the past 30 years. Moreover, the number of patients found to have colonic ischemia can be expected to increase over the next several decades as that portion of our population older than 65 years grows and the many forms of ischemic injury to the colon are better appreciated. Earlier diagnosis should follow the wider use of colonoscopy, and recognition of the ischemic nature of the varied disease manifestations and identification of patients at high risk for this disease should result in better management.