Login / Signup

A Rare Case of Pancolonic Ischemia Complicated by Fusobacterium Necrophorum Bacteremia: A Review of Colonic Ischemia for Internists.

Alaina ChodoffDiana WhiteheadBeryl OtienoJoseph Fuscaldo
Published in: Journal of community hospital internal medicine perspectives (2023)
The varied clinical presentation and objective findings associated with colonic ischemia (CI) overlap with multiple disease processes. A high index of suspicion is critical for timely diagnosis and prognostication to avoid delays in treatment. We present a case that highlights the challenges of diagnosing CI and the high morbidity associated with severe disease. Case report: A sixty-four-year-old female presented to our community hospital with acute onset abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea, complicated by septic shock. She was initially given a diagnosis of infectious colitis until a colonoscopy was performed revealing extensive pancolonic ulcerations. Histopathological features on biopsy were most consistent with colonic ischemia. Blood cultures grew Fusobacterium Necrophorum . Surgery was avoided due to the high morbidity and mortality of performing a total colectomy and ileostomy. The patient continued to struggle with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and hematochezia, consistent with continuous CI, leading to recurrent hospitalizations.
Keyphrases