| [ Summary ] |
Paralytic ileus, due to acute mesentery blood vessel obstruction suggests peritonitis resulting from irreversible ischemia of the intestinal tract and necrosis. Although excision of the necrotic intestinal tract is required, if it has progressed to a critical stage, such as extensive intestinal tract necrosis, sepsis, shock, or MODS, medical treatment will be difficult. Therefore, early diagnosis and early treatment are both important. An acute superior mesentery arteriral embolism should be suspected in patients with sudden severe abdominal pain, who present atrial fibrillation and/or valvular disease. In the early stages of this illness, subjective symptoms are comparatively greater than objective findings. Those patients with Blumberg's sign are thought to be advanced cases. Urgent surgical operations are commonly indicated where peritonitis has resulted in acute mesentery blood vessel obstruction. When this clinical condition is suspected the physician should immediately consult surgeons, while continuing diagnostic procedures, such as ultrasounds, CTs, and/or angiography. |