Ischemic enteropathy. A rare cause of small-intestinal obstruction

Acute colitis and chronic stricture are recognized complications of vascular insufficiency of the large intestine. Although the syndrome of intestinal angina well described, ischemic ewnteritis and ischemic stricture of the small intestine are rare and often overlooked causes of intestinal obstruction. A review of 300 patients over 65 years of age with bowel obstructions did not include a single case of ischemic etiology. Two such patients, however, have recently been encountered and are reported here.