MY VASCULAR HEALTH
Mesenteric Arterial Disease
Overview
The mesenteric arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the stomach, the small intestine, and the large intestine. Plaque buildup in the mesenteric arteries can narrow the blood vessel lumen and diminish its blood supply. Patient symptoms vary depending on the nature of plaque buildup which could be a slow process that occurs over the years or sudden occlusion of mesenteric artery.
Signs & Symptoms:
- Sudden onset of acute and intractable abdominal pain.
- Abdominal pain after eating meals, bloating, nausea, loose bowel movements, diarrhea.
- Unplanned weight loss.
Causes:
CHRONIC
Slow plaque buildup within the mesenteric arteries can result in chronic mesenteric ischemia which often results in post-prandial abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and sometimes loose bowel movements. This often limits the patient’s ability to have normal meals, resulting in decreased food intake, malnourishment, and weight loss. Although this is not an immediate life-threatening situation, in some cases, it can result in acute mesenteric ischemia which can be life-threatening.
ACUTE
Sudden occlusion of the mesenteric artery results in severe intractable abdominal pain and can be a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.