Ischemic colitis as a cause of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding and peritonitis. Report of five cases.

Vascular disorders of the colorectum are considered rare in Taiwan, however, recently the authors encountered five cases of ischemic colitis, all in men over 50 years of age. Cases one and five involved stricture, case two was secondary to obstructive colon cancer, and case three was of the gangrenous type presenting with peritonitis due to colonic perforation. Case four was of the transient type with acute massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to traumatic shock. All five patients were treated successfully by resection.