Ischemic colitis of the ascending colon: a diagnostic and management conundrum

Ischemic colitis is the most common form of intestinal ischemia. It most commonly involves the left side of the colon presenting with acute onset of abdominal pain followed by bloody diarrhea. Involvement of only the right or ascending colon is an infrequent occurrence. Because this problem is less recognized than its counterpart involving the left colon, the correct diagnosis and management may not be readily considered. We present a case of ischemic colitis presenting as a distal small bowel obstruction with emphasis on evaluation and management of this unusual clinical problem.