Study of Ischemic Colitis Compared to Other Diagnoses in Patients With Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Ischemic Colitis Is a Common Cause of Severe Hematochezia and Patient Outcomes Are Worse Than With Other Colonic Diagnoses

The purpose of this study is to study the demographic,laboratory,endoscopic, and outcomes of ischemic colitis patient presented with severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding compared to other diagnoses.

Secondary purpose of this study is to assess the risk factors for predicting diverticulosis versus ischemic colitis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• bright red blood clots or burgundy colored stool documented by a health care worker
• clinical or laboratory evidence of significant blood loss, manifested by any one of the following: (a) more than three bloody bowel movements in eight hours (b) a decrease of two grams of hemoglobin (Hgb) from baseline, or (c) transfusion of more than three units of red blood cell (URBC).

Exclusion Criteria:

• age less than 18 year
• history of inflammatory bowel disease
• hypotension or shock refractory to resuscitation
• severe coagulopathy refractory to resuscitation (platelet count < 30,000; prothrombin time [PT]- more than 2 times normal; partial thromboplastin time [PTT]- more than 2 times normal)
• acquired immune deficiency syndrome or neutropenia
• the inability to provide informed consent
• documentation of anal disorders as a cause of bleeding such as internal hemorrhoids, anal fissures, polyps or cancer of the anal canal, and fistulae