What is the meaning of “dead colon?”
Can a Colonoscopy detect this and what can be done about it?
Healthcare Providers (3)
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I personally don’t use it. It might be referring to the interruption of blood flow to the colon.
This is ischemic colitis when there is a big drop in the blood pressure and decrease in blood supply to the colon.
It is possible the endoscopist was referring to ischemic colitis. This happens when the blood supply to the colon or parts of it is interrupted without an alternative supply of blood. It can happen when blood pressure drops suddenly, especially in the elderly with already hardened arteries, or if there is a clot in one of the major arteries of the colon. Treatment is observation most of the time (patients with ischemic colitis recover uneventfully most of the time) and surgery if the colon is “truly dead” – patient exhibits systemic inflammation (sepsis) due to this problem.