Patient's question:
My grandfather is 52 years old this year, and his health has always been good. However, he suddenly experienced abdominal cramps and nausea with vomiting and dry heaves. After a thorough examination at the hospital, it was diagnosed as an intestinal artery embolism, which is quite serious and requires surgery. He will also need to pay more attention in the future. Can this condition be cured? How is an intestinal artery embolism treated?Doctor's answer:
Embolic occlusion of the intestinal artery is very common in clinical diagnosis, especially in elderly patients. It tends to recur more frequently in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation, primarily because atrial fibrillation is prone to thrombus formation. Due to the decline in various physiological functions in elderly individuals, blood flow slows down, making it easier for emboli to get stuck in the intestinal artery and cause occlusion, which is clinically referred to as ischemic bowel disease. The only treatment method is emergency surgery. Additionally, the underlying disease must be actively treated, along with antifibrillation therapy.