intestinal ischemiais the consequence of a mesenteric vein thrombosis. In July 2021, the actor Juan Pablo Medina “lost” a leg derived from several complications in his health. She recently gave an interview in which he commented on how everything happened at that time.
After the amputation of his right legit was known that everything was the consequence of a thrombosis. However, prior to that, she had had discomforts that she decided to ignore. The discomfort caused her to end up in the hospital.
At first he thought it was food poisoning, but the problem went beyond that. “When I went up to the room I was feeling kind of bad, but I already had to go to the set. So I spoke to the doctor and told him: inject me with something for the pain.”said the actor.
“My stomach started to hurt (…) and the legI was like, what’s going on? But I I never knew how to listenI had a priority, which was work”Juan Pablo commented. He did not realize that he had suffered a silent heart attackwhich caused clots in your bodywhich “invaded” his intestine and right leg.
What causes intestinal ischemia
What is intestinal ischemia. Photo: iStock
The intestinal ischemia occurs when there is a decreased blood flow to the intestineswhich can cause damage and cause problems in their operation.
This can be caused by various conditions that affect the blood flow to the intestinesincluding:
Blood clots in the arteries that supply blood to the intestines
Blockage of an intestinal artery due to plaque buildup
vasospasma temporary constriction of the arteries that reduces blood flow to the intestines
low blood flow due to heart failure, shock, or a drop in blood pressure.
Furthermore, certain risk factor’s can increase the chances of developing intestinal ischemiaas the advanced age, heart diseases, diabetes, smoking, obesity y elevated cholesterol levels.
It is important to seek medical attention immediately if you suspect a intestinal ischemiasince it is a serious condition that can lead to intestinal tissue death and sepsis if not treated promptly.
How intestinal ischemia is detected
What is intestinal ischemia. Photo: iStock
He diagnosis of intestinal ischemia can be challenging because symptoms can be vague and nonspecific, and can vary depending on the severity of the disease, he notes Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms of sudden acute intestinal ischemia:
Abdominal pain mild, moderate or intense
Constant need to defecate
Abdominal distension
Blood in the stool
Threw up
nausea
Mental confusion
Symptoms of chronic intestinal ischemia:
abdominal cramps
abdominal pain that intensifies
unintentional weight loss
Diarrhea
nausea and vomiting
abdominal swelling
Some evidence that doctors can use to detect intestinal ischemia include:
Blood test: Blood tests may be done to look for signs of inflammation and/or infection in the body.
x-rays: Abdominal x-rays may be helpful in determining if there are signs of intestinal obstruction.
computed tomography (CT): A CT scan of the abdomen may show changes in the intestinal wall or in the fat surrounding the intestines that indicate ischemia.
Ultrasonido Doppler: Used to measure blood flow in the mesenteric arteries that supply blood to the intestines.
Endoscopy: An endoscopy can help doctors visualize the intestines and detect signs of damage to the intestinal lining.
If you suspect intestinal ischemiaseveral tests can be performed to assess the severity of the disease and determine the best course of treatment. It is important to seek medical attention immediately if you suspect intestinal ischemia.
Which organs does ischemia affect?
What is intestinal ischemia. Photo: courtesy IG @juan_pablomedina
The ischemia It can affect various organs and systems of the body, depending on the cause and the disease severity. In the case of the intestinal ischemiaThe most affected organs are the intestinessince they are the ones that receive a limited blood supply.
When the intestines do not receive enough bloodcell injury and death may occur, resulting in inflammation and serious infection in the affected area. The intestinal ischemia can cause permanent damage to the intestinesand even death, if not treated promptly.
And at ischemia affects the large intestineit is known as colonic ischemia.
There are several types of ischemia that affect the small intestine: acute mesenteric ischemia, chronic mesenteric ischemia e ischemia due to mesenteric vein thrombosis.
Besides intestinesischemia can also affect other organs and systems of the body, such as the brainhe heartlos kidneys and the lungs. In the case of the cerebral ischemiadecreased blood flow can lead to a stroke (causing permanent brain damage and disability).
The cardiac ischemia it can cause a heart attack, which can be life-threatening. The renal ischemia can lead to kidney failure, while pulmonary ischemia can cause lung damage and difficulty breathing.
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John Paul Medina He commented that when he began to feel bad, he thought he was “going away.” I didn’t want to dieHe wanted to fight for his life. “When I woke up (from surgery), the doctor came and told me: -I promised you that I would do everything to save your leg, but that your life was not at risk. I can’t do more we have to amputate your leg”.
Although it was not an easy decision, the actor chose to allow the amputation of his right leg. Thanks to that wise decision, he is still alive, happy and wanting to be well.
It is important to pay attention to the signals sent by the bodybecause our health could be at risk. John Paul Medina has decided to open his heart about this complex experience, to raise awareness and demonstrate that ceasing to give importance to health can be devastating.