Ischemic colitis medical therapy

Overview
Except in the most severe cases, ischemic colitis is treated with supportive care.

Intravenous Fluids
IV fluids are given to treat dehydration, and the patient is placed on bowel rest (meaning nothing to eat or drink) until the symptoms resolve.

Optimize Cardiac Output
If possible, cardiac function and oxygenation should be optimized to improve oxygen delivery to the ischemic bowel.

Nasogastric Tube
A nasogastric tube may be inserted if an ileus is present.

Antibiotics
Antibiotics are sometimes given in moderate to severe cases; the data supporting this practice date to the 1950s, although there is more recent animal data suggesting that antibiotics may increase survival and prevent bacteria from crossing the damaged lining of the colon into the bloodstream. The use of prophylactic antibiotics in ischemic colitis has not been prospectively evaluated in humans, but many authorities recommend their use based on the animal data.