Ischemic proctitis

Abstract

The rectum is rarely involved in ischemic colitis because of its abundant collateral blood supply, Thus, other forms of inflammatory intestinal disease, such as antibiotic associated or infectious colitis, are considered to be more likely if the rectum is inflamed. Yet, collateral flow develops slowly. Therefore, ischemic proctitis does occur in instances of sudden occlusion of the major blood supply to the rectum, such as after an aortic operation. The histopathology of this condition does not differ from that of infectious colitides, and the diagnosis of ischemic colitis can only be confirmed after careful culturing and assessment of the stool for clostridial toxins. Penile Doppler pressure measurements, as demonstrated in the patient presented herein, may be a simple, noninvasive method of inferring rectal blood flow and, therefore, aid in the diagnosis of ischemic proctitis.