Intestinal ischaemia

Intestinal or abdominal ischaemia occurs when the blood flow to the large or small bowels is reduced. We can distinguish three types:

• Acute mesenteric ischaemia
• Chronic mesenteric ischaemia
• Acute colonic ischaemia

The small intestine is supplied by the coeliac trunk and superior mesenteric artery. The large intestine is supplied by the inferior mesenteric artery as well as a few branches from the superior mesenteric artery.