Ischaemic enterocolitis.

EDITORIAL SYNOPSIS Ischaemic enterocolitis is often incorrectly called fulminant ulcerative colitis at necropsy and this paper sets out the evidence on which a correct diagnosis may be made. The condition may be precipitated by an episode of hypotension in a patient with some degree of bowel ischaemia, producing sudden hypoxia. Such hypotension imitating the disease reaction may be due to a variety of causes, such as the administration of hypotensive drugs, haemorrhage, or cardiac infarction.