[Ischemic enteritis]

Ischemic enteritis is a rare disease, but its mortality is high, whether it is caused by anatomic occlusion of the mesenteric macrovasculature or pathophysiologic vasospasm at the microvascular level. Despite advances in the management of the critical ill patient, a large proportion of the patients recognized with this diagnosis succumb acutely to their condition. Lesser degrees of mesenteric ischemia (particularly, in small intestine), even when not manifest overtly as the classic clinical syndrome, may contribute to the development of systemic sepsis and the multiple organ failure syndrome, which leads to death. Therefore, the understanding, recognition, and proper management of mesenteric vascular insufficiency has become very important.