HOW TO TREAT ISCHEMIC COLITIS?
Very mild cases of Ischemic Colitis can be managed on an outpatient basis with liquid diet, close observation, and antibiotics. For inpatients, a combination of intravenous fluids and bowel rest is recommended to reduce intestinal oxygen requirements. Parenteral nutrition should be considered for patients who do not respond immediately and intestinal perfusion. Therefore, digitalis and other vasopressors are withdrawn or minimized, if possible, and cardiac output is maximized by adequate fluid resuscitation. Steroids have no role in the treatment of acute ischemia, and they serve only to mask the development of peritoneal signs and delay a necessary laparotomy. Likewise, oral cathartics and bowel preparations should not be given because of the risk of precipitating colonic perforation or toxic dilation of the colon. MANAGING CHRONIC COLONIC ISCHEMIA Chronic colonic ischemia is increasingly being recognized in the population at large. The patients are older and describe a history of blo
