How to Treat a Bowel Infarction

A bowel infarction, caused by a restricted flow of blood to the bowel, may be the result of a twist in the bowel itself or an obstruction that is occurs after surgery. If not treated, a bowel infarction will cause the destruction of the portion of bowel involved and could be fatal to the patient. Here's how to treat it.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Expect to stay in the hospital during the treatment for a bowel infarction. Most patients complain of constant abdominal pain and diarrhea that may contain mucus.

2. Schedule a laparotomy, where the doctor makes a small incision in your abdomen and threads a tiny probe to the affected colon area. He will inject a fluorescent dye in order to find which section of your colon is the problem.

3. Agree to a surgical procedure to remove the dead part of your bowel and resect the remaining portion. Surgery on the bowel increases the future risk of another bowel infarction as scar adhesions form.

4. Undergo treatment to keep your heart strong. Bowel infarctions are life-threatening conditions that place additional stress on your heart. You may receive oxygen to enrich your blood flow and have your heart rate monitored.

5. Recover while receiving intravenous fluids with special antibiotics to treat your colon. Because a bowel infarction means part of your bowel "died," there is an increased risk of infection. You will also receive medication for pain.

6. Call your physician if you have increasing abdominal pain after surgery to resect an infarcted bowel.

[HowardBThiname]

on 11/13/2008 This is a great and well thought out article. Thanks for writing it.