Chronic ischaemic bowel diseases in the aged--go with the flow.

Background: Intestinal ischaemia is caused by a reduction in intestinal blood flow. This entity is being increasingly recognised as a cause of abdominal symptoms but is often not diagnosed accurately. Chronic mesenteric ischaemia (intestinal angina) refers to chronic post-prandial abdominal pain caused by intestinal hypoperfusion usually related to atherosclerosis.