Celiac and mesenteric artery interventions

The section of the aorta — the body’s main artery — that travels through the abdomen has a huge job, considering it supplies blood flow to areas of the body where digestion and filtration take place. There are several arteries that branch off the aorta in this area and attach to the vital organs in the abdomen. But why is blood and oxygen important for digestion and filtration? What can go wrong if our body cannot amass our blood cell ‘troops’ to these organs when they are needed?

To understand how this system of arteries works together, think in threes. First, there is the celiac artery: a short, thick stump that sticks out from the aorta. This stump is one of three major branches of the abdominal aorta. The others are the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. The celiac artery serves the liver, stomach, abdominal esophagus, spleen, the first half of the pancreas, and the small intestine where most chemical digestion takes place. The other two branches — the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries — feed the intestines, colon, pancreas, and the rectum with oxygenrich blood.

We know arteries become narrow due to plaque buildup on their walls, a process called atherosclerosis. However, what is different about plaque in arteries located in the abdomen is the repercussions are even more complex. For example, the celiac artery is a key source of blood to the organs in the abdomen because the interconnections with the other major arteries cannot provide enough blood to the tissue on their own. In severe cases, obstruction of arteries located in the abdomen could cause the tissue to die. But one thing is certain, when the stomach and intestines do not have enough circulation, they cannot digest or process food properly. This can cause a domino effect in other areas of the body.

The safest way to determine whether the symptoms are a result of a bad casserole recipe or the result of blockage is to visit professionals like those at ICE. They can evaluate whether the symptoms of weight loss, severe abdominal pain, bloating after eating, vomiting, dizziness, or low blood pressure are just a bad meal or if combined with risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, high cholesterol, or other cardiovascular diseases, are of concern and need attention.

Source: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/vascular/