Mesenteric Disease

Mesenteric vascular disease is a condition that develops when the arteries in the abdomen narrow due to build-up of plaque. The result is a lack of blood supply to the intestines. The disease can come on suddenly and you may develop severe abdominal pain.

Risks:
Risk factors for mesenteric vascular disease include atrial fibrillation, heart failure, chronic renal failure, smoking, a family history of atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, advanced age, obesity and sedentary lifestyle.

Symptoms:
Patients with mesenteric artery disease often experience weight loss and severe abdominal pain following meals. Other symptoms include vomiting, dizziness and low blood pressure due to accumulation of acid in the blood.

Treatments:
Endarterectomy involves the surgical removal of plaque build-up on the inner lining of the artery.
Balloon Angioplasty and Stenting: A catheter with a small balloon at the end is inserted through an artery in the groin and guided to the narrowed segment of the artery. When the catheter reaches the blockage, the balloon is inflated to widen the narrowed artery (known as balloon angioplasty).