[Intestinal obstruction caused by ischemic colitis: description of 3 surgically treated cases]

The diagnosis of ischemic colitis is challenging and still based upon a high index of suspicion. We report here, three patients affected by ischemic colitis causing stenosis and intestinal obstruction who required surgical treatment. Results of surgery in the three cases were not fair reflecting the high mortality and morbidity rate of ischemic colitis. However, the three cases showed peculiar features allowing us to make a few speculative considerations. Better results in the treatment of ischemic colitis might be achieved by means of a prompt recognition of the initial picture and through a better control of the many associated diseases, that represent the main risk factor for the development of ischemic colitis itself and for the bad prognosis of surgical treatment.