Ischemic colitis following uncomplicated colonoscopy

Ischemic colitis is a disorder of the intestine arising from a multitude of reasons thus representing a challenge for causal research. Our aim was to shed further light on the course, etiology and triggers of non-occlusive ischemic colitis by presenting an atypical complication after colonoscopy.

We present the case report of a 77-year-old male patient presenting with ischemic colitis after an uneventful outpatient colonoscopy two days prior to onset of symptoms.

So far only few cases of post-colonoscopy ischemic colitis have been reported. In the present case no single reason was identified. It remains to be assumed that a combination of predisposing conditions with a modest decrease of blood pressure and short-term increased intraluminal pressure during colonoscopy may have led to ischemic colitis.

Awareness of ischemic colitis as a complication in comparable settings is favorable. So far, early countermeasures against even modest hypotension in patients with comparable past history may be considered on an individual basis depending on the entirety of risk factors. However, prospective studies are necessary to evaluate potential risk profiles for ischemic colitis in terms of colonoscopy.