What Causes Intestinal Ischemia?

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the pancreas. This inflammation can happen as a result of the premature activation of digestive enzymes. Because the activation occurs before these enzymes make their way into the small intestine, the enzymes end up attacking the pancreas instead of the food moving through the intestines. The result of this attack is damage and inflammation of the pancreas. The exact mechanism of how this pancreatitis causes inflammation in the mesenteric veins is not clear. However, when the damage that occurs to the pancreas also causes inflammation in the veins responsible for transporting oxygen-poor blood away from the intestines and colon, mesenteric venous thrombosis can occur. Mesenteric venous thrombosis is the blockage of a vein that results in swelling and bleeding of the intestines due to a backup of blood. The deoxygenated backup of blood stops the normal flow of oxygen-rich blood to the affected tissues. This process effectively results in the development of intestinal ischemia.