Intestinal angina: an unusual cause of abdominal pain

Bilgin Emrecan, Gökhan Önem, Ahmet Baltalarlı

Pamukkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Denizli

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (intestinal angina) refers to chronic postprandial abdominal pain caused by intestinal hypoperfusion. It is an unusual, but important cause of abdominal pain. Symptoms occur when at least two of the three main splanchnic vessels are affected. Intestinal angina, weight loss, and sitophobia are common clinical presentations. Diagnosis can often be made by tomographic angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and duplex ultrasonography. Conventional angiography is the gold standard for diagnosis. Treatment comprises surgical bypass and endovascular balloon angioplasty. It can lead to severe complications and even death if untreated. In this article, this unusual cause of abdominal pain is reviewed in detail.

Keywords : Abdominal pain/etiology; ischemia; mesenteric vascular occlusion/complications; vascular surgical procedures

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