Our Experience with Patients That Diagnosed Ischemic Colitis in Colonoscopy

Aim: Ischemic colitis (IC) is one of the most common causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding, especially in patients over 60 years of age. In this study, we investigated the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with IC detected by colonoscopy. Material and Method: This study was conducted retrospectively by examining the patient records of patients who underwent colonoscopy for various reasons between January 2014 and December 2017. Patients with IC pre-diagnosis in the colonoscopy reports were included in the study. A total of 130 patients were found, 18 patients were excluded from the study due to lack of data and the study was conducted with 112 patients. Results: Definitive IC was diagnosed in 56 of 112 patients who had a preliminary diagnosis of colonoscopy (50%). The average age of patients diagnosed with definitive IC was 68, of which 30 were male and 26 were female. It was observed that IC patients applied to the hospital with complaints of abdominal pain, hematochezia, diarrhea and fever. It is observed that ischemic colitis is most frequently affects left colon. In the doppler findings of patients with IC, all mesenteric vessels and aorta were normal in the vast majority of patients (70%). When predisposing factors that may cause IC were examined, hypertension was observed in 59% of patients, coronary artery disease in 59%, diabetes mellitus in 21% and heart failure in 18%. The vast majority of patients improved with medical therapy (89%). Six patients were given surgery for colon resection (11%), 4 of these patients recovered, but two patients became exitus due to the common thromboembolic condition and associated extensive ischemia (4%). Conclusion: IC is a disease that presents symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain, especially in elderly male patients with predisposing risk factors, frequently seen in the left colon and responds well to medical treatment, and should be considered in every patient with acute diarrhea and abdominal pain.