Ischemic colitis.

Twenty cases of ischemic colitis are reviewed; 19 were obtained from autopsy files and the diagnosis in one was made from a surgical specimen. The majority of the patients were elderly with generalized arteriosclerosis. In approximately two-thirds of the patients the ischemic colitis was precipitated by preceding trauma, operation or congestive heart failure. Clinically, ischemic colitis is characterized by abdominal pain, distension and bleeding per rectum. Perforation of large bowel may occur. The lesions tend to be localized around the splenic flexure and junction of the descending and sigmoid colon, and in cases following aortic graft surgery the rectum is involved. Microscopically, there is necrosis, hemorrhage and ulceration. In less severe cases the mucosa only is affected. Cases with perforation show necrosis of all layers. It is considered that ischemic colitis is comparatively frequent and should be distinguished from other inflammatory conditions of the colon.