Related articles: Abdominal angina
Definition
Abdominal angina (also known as angina abdominis) is a clinical syndrome characterized by severe post-prandial abdominal pain. Similarly to the more famous angina pectoris, also the abdominal one is due to an ischemic picture, that is to a progressive reduction of blood flow, which becomes insufficient to satisfy the requests of certain organs. Unlike the "pectoris" that affects the heart, angina abdominis is related to chronic intestinal ischemia.
The symptoms of abdominal angina become evident above all after meals because digestion increases the demand for oxygen, and therefore for blood, from the intestine in similar situations. The abdominal pains, of cramp-like type and located under the sternum (epigastric site, corresponding to the central part of the upper half of the abdomen), can continue for several hours after the meal, and be accompanied by diarrhea, flatulence and malabsorption. The severity of the pains associated with angina abdominis is such as to push the subject to abstain, as far as possible, from feeding; the patient loses weight and may develop cachexia.
Most common symptoms and signs *
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Pain in the Stomach Mouth
- heartburn
- Flatulence
- Sitofobia
Further indications
For the condition to manifest itself, stensosis (occlusion of at least 50% of the lumen) of at least two of the three major mesentiric vessels is necessary.
If the condition is not adequately treated (via baypass or angioplasty), the occlusive phenomenon may worsen, with the appearance of thrombosis with mesenteric infarction; this determines the irreversible necrosis of the affected intestinal segment and peritonitis.
