Bowel Ischemia

Bowel ischemia is an umbrella term encompassing a wide range of diseases, ranging from self-limiting conditions, usually responding to conservative treatment, to surgical emergencies, associated with high mortality rates. In acute setting, according to anatomy, different pathogenesis, and clinical evolution, we can classify them in two main entities: acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) and colon ischemia (CI), also named ischemic colitis (IC). While AMI is a surgical emergency with high mortality, CI may be treated conservatively in most cases, and surgery is indicated in case of gangrene, perforation, or unresponsive cases. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and clinical management of bowel ischemia, highlighting the potential indications for mini-invasive surgery in this setting.