It can be hard to diagnose mesenteric ischemia. Because its main symptom is abdominal pain without a clear cause, AMI and CMI are often mistaken for more common GI problems at first. To confirm a diagnosis of AMI or CMI, you will need a physical exam and CT angiogram. Sometimes, additional imaging may be used.
During your first office visit, your provider will spend time with you and learn more about your symptoms and overall health. They will:
- Conduct a physical exam
- Discuss your medical history and your current medical conditions
- Listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope
- Check your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen level
A CT angiogram, also called a CTA, is an imaging test that uses a CT scan and contrast dye to create detailed pictures of your blood vessels. This helps doctors see blockages, aneurysms or other problems inside arteries and veins throughout your body. During this test, you will lie on a table and an IV will be placed in your hand or arm. Contrast dye will be injected into the IV, and you will have painless electrodes attached to your chest. This will allow your medical team to monitor your heart rate and rhythm. The table slides into the CT machine, which takes a series of images from various angles. The procedure usually takes less than an hour.
A duplex ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of your blood vessels. It combines traditional ultrasound for structure with a Doppler technique that shows blood flow. This allows doctors to assess blood flow speed and direction to diagnose blockages, narrowing or abnormal flow patterns. During the test, you’ll lie on a table. The technologist will place a gel over the tissues being examined and then move a transducer wand over the area. Sound waves from the wand bounce off the tissues and back to a computer, which interprets the waves to create images. The test is painless.
An MR angiogram, also known as magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), is a type of imaging test that uses strong magnets and radio waves to create detailed pictures of your blood vessels. Because it’s performed without the use of a catheter, an MRA is less painful and less invasive. MRA can help diagnose aneurysms, arterial stenosis and vascular malformations. During an MR angiogram, you lie on a table that slides into an MRI machine. You will remain still while the MRI is performed, which can take an hour or more. In some cases, you will have contrast dye injected into your blood vessels through an IV to make them easier to visualize during the test.
