[Ischemic disease of the intestine]

With the remarkable progress in diagnostic techniques, the recent increase in the incidence of arteriosclerosis and the gradually aging population, a great deal of attention is now being focused on intestinal ischemia and this disease has come to be regarded as one of the clinically important pathological conditions. From the clinic aspect, special attention should be directed to the artery which is involved in intestinal ischemia. Furthermore acute superior mesenteric arterial ischemia (SMA ischemia), ischemic colitis, non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) require serious attentions. Few specific findings of these pathological conditions can be obtained in general examinations, therefore angiography is the most useful technique for making difinitive diagnoses. SMA ischemia and NOMI are progressive diseases and their prognoses are poor. The progress of ischemic colitis is gradual and the conservative therapy consisting of fasting, drip infusion and antibiotic administration is generally effective in treating this disease.