Abdominal aortic aneurysm complicated by rectal necrosis. An unusual complication.

Spontaneous ischemic colitis is an often dramatic but common condition. Following resections of abdominal aneurysms it is not an unusual complication. Most cases will have mild symptoms. In patients with multiple arteriosclerotic disease there is an increased risk for rectal necrosis when the flow from the internal iliac arteries is impaired. We report a patient with multiple arteriosclerotic disease who developed necrosis of the left colon and rectum following occlusion of the inferior mesenteric artery.