Abdominal pain occurs 30-60 minutes after meals, leading to fear of eating and weight loss. Pain typically comes on gradually and persists for months, leading to unintentional weight loss, which is not unexpected due to the massive drop in calories consumed.
Diagnosis is difficult. Usually, a CT angiogram and an arterial ultrasound (duplex) are required to conclude. The diagnosis is difficult, as there are many other causes of abdominal pain after eating (all these different causes are more common than blocked intestinal blood vessels)!
Other diagnoses to exclude before making a diagnosis of mesenteric ischaemia include ruling out gall, bladder issues, or issues with the stomach (such as hiatus hernias) or intestinal matters (such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome)
If the diagnosis has been accurately made, the treatment is generally a stent inserted in a minimally invasive manner. Younger patients with this condition (age < 60) should have open surgical bypass explored, as the repair is more durable than stenting, which can tend to narrow over the subsequent five years, and open surgery, whilst more invasive, can be safer in the longer term.
Consulting locations
WOLLONGONG
Artery and Vein Clinic
402 Crown St
Wollongong
NSW 2500
GREGORY HILLS
Artery and Vein Clinic
Soma Centre
Suite 8/7, Gregory Hills drive
Gregory hills
NSW 2557
Orange
Artery and Vein Clinic
117 Molder st
Orange
NSW 2800
Contact Info
Wollongong
Phone: (02) 4226 9333
Fax: (02) 4229 4006
Gregory Hills
Phone: (02) 4601 1055
Fax: (02) 4601 1058
Orange
Phone: (02) 4601 1055
Fax: (02) 4601 1058
Healthlink EDI: wgvascul
Office Hours
9am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday
Phone Hours
7am – 6pm Monday to Friday
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