Ischaemic colitis: uncertainty in diagnosis, pathophysiology and management

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Ischaemic colitis is the most frequent type of gastrointestinal ischaemia.
• It can be misdiagnosed, presenting challenges in clinical practice.
• Differential diagnosis includes acute mesenteric ischaemia, inflammatory bowel disease, and infectious colitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of ischaemic colitis.
• To guide clinical practice through current understanding of classification, epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and management.
• To highlight areas requiring further investigation.

Main Methods:

• This is a review article.
• It synthesizes current knowledge on ischaemic colitis.
• The review focuses on classification, epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and management.

Main Results:

• The review outlines the current classification and epidemiology of ischaemic colitis.
• It details the identified risk factors associated with the condition.
• Approaches to diagnosis and management are presented to aid clinical decision-making.

Conclusions:

• A clear understanding of ischaemic colitis is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
• The review provides a framework for managing patients with ischaemic colitis.
• Further research is needed to address existing knowledge gaps.