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At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Estrogen-progesterone therapy for recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to gastrointestinal angiodysplasia.

Recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding ceased after the institution of estrogen-progesterone therapy in a patient with gastrointestinal angiodysplasia without chronic renal failure. The patient did have aortic stenosis and mitral insufficiency murmurs. A therapeutic trial of conjugated estrogen should be considered in patients with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to gastrointestinal angiodysplasia after the use of therapeutic endoscopy and/or surgery.

Aged↗

Splenic angiosarcoma metastasis to small bowel presented with gastrointestinal bleeding.

Primary splenic angiosarcoma is a very rare, aggressive neoplasm with a high metastatic rate and dismal prognosis. This neoplasm usually presents with abdominal pain, splenomegaly, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Splenic angiosarcoma with bleeding gastrointestinal metastases is extremely rare. The literature contains only two case reports. This study reported a 44-year-old male patient with splenic angiosarcoma with sustained repeated gastrointestinal bleeding due to small bowel metastases. Salvage surgery was performed by splenectomy and resection of the metastatic small bowel tumors. The post-operative course was uneventful; the patient survived with the disease and had no GI bleeding, 7 mo after surgery.

Adult↗

Gastrointestinal bleeding: treatment with gastrointestinal arterial embolization.

Retrospective analysis of 36 embolization procedures in 29 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding was undertaken, and the presence or absence of coagulopathy was identified as a major factor affecting embolization outcome. Embolization was successful in 18 of 29 (62%) patients and unsuccessful in 11 (38%). Eight of 11 failures (73%) occurred in patients with a coagulopathy, whereas three patients (27%) in whom embolization was successful also had a coagulopathy. Embolization was 2.9 times more likely to be unsuccessful (P = .0463) and death from bleeding after embolization was 9.6 times more likely to occur (P = .0065) in patients with a coagulopathy than in those without. Because embolization was successful in six of 14 (43%) coagulopathy patients, the authors advocate embolization in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding and coagulopathy, while all efforts to correct the coagulopathy would be made as early as possible.

Adolescent↗

Contribution of intraoperative enteroscopy in the management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding remains a significant diagnostic challenge. Our aims were (1) to determine the efficacy of intraoperative enteroscopy (IOE) in identifying lesions responsible for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and (2) to determine the outcome of patients after treatment of these lesions. We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent IOE for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding from 1992 to 1998. Patients were divided into those with overt and those with occult gastrointestinal bleeding. Follow-up was complete in 67 patients (96%), with a median of 32 months (range 1 to 91 months). Seventy patients (52 overt and 18 occult) underwent IOE after extensive preoperative evaluation. Median duration of bleeding was 12 months, requiring a median of 14 blood transfusions. Risk factors for bleeding were identified in 46 patients (61%). A lesion was identified and treated in 52 patients (74%)-39 in the overt group and 13 in the occult group. Lesions identified were vascular (54%), ulcerations (31%), tumors (11%), and small bowel diverticula (4%). Overall, 35 patients (52%) were found to have one or more lesions at IOE that were treated surgically and had no further bleeding. IOE, through a mid-small bowel enterotomy, has low morbidity and is effective in that it identified a treatable lesion in 74% of patients, which led to cure of bleeding in 52%.

Adolescent↗

Acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

Acute gastrointestinal bleeding is a significant worldwide medical problem. Despite modern measures for diagnosis and treatment, morbidity and mortality rates associated with gastrointestinal bleeding remain largely unchanged. Aggressive medical resuscitation while initiating an evaluation to localize the site of blood loss remains the key to successful management of acute gastrointestinal bleeding. A multidisciplinary approach with early involvement of a gastroenterologist, surgeon, and radiologist can be extremely helpful in the management of these patients. With the logical and direct approach to the evaluation of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding described in this article, most episodes can be managed successfully.

Acute Disease↗

Surgical management of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Severe gastrointestinal bleeding has historically been a clinical problem primarily under the purview of the general surgeon. Diagnostic advances made as the result of newer technologies, such as fiberoptic and video endoscopy, selective visceral arteriography, and nuclear scintigraphy, have permitted more accurate and targeted operations. More importantly, they have led to safe, effective nonoperative therapeutic interventions that have obviated the need for surgery in many patients. Today, most gastrointestinal bleeding episodes are initially managed by endoscopic or angiographic control measures. Such interventions are often definitive in obtaining hemostasis. Even temporary cessation or attenuation of massive bleeding in an unstable patient permits a safer, more controlled operative procedure by allowing an adequate period of preoperative resuscitation. Despite the less frequent need for surgical intervention, traditional operative approaches, such as suture ligation, lesion or organ excision, vagotomy, portasystemic anastomosis, and devascularization procedures, continue to be life-saving in many instances. The proliferation of laparoscopic surgery has fostered the application of minimally invasive techniques to highly selected patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Intraoperative endoscopy has greatly facilitated the accuracy of laparoscopic surgery by endoscopic localization of bleeding lesions requiring excision. It is anticipated that the evolving technologies pertinent to the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal bleeding will continue to promote collaboration and cooperation between gastroenterologists, radiologists, and surgeons.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is defined as blood loss that originates from a source distal to the ligament of Treitz and results in hemodynamic instability or symptomatic anemia. Although approximately 10% to 15% of patients presenting with acute severe hematochezia have an upper gastrointestinal source of bleeding identified on upper endoscopy, the most common causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding are diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, ischemic colitis, and angiodysplasia. As with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, lower gastrointestinal bleeding ceases spontaneously in most cases.

Algorithms↗

Acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

Acute gastrointestinal bleeding is a common disorder with a wide spectrum of presentations that may encompass multiple clinical scenarios. Initial hemodynamic assessment and resuscitation are critical. Once accomplished, the source of bleeding should be localized, active bleeding should be stopped, the underlying abnormality should be treated, and recurrent bleeding should be prevented. The means to accomplish these goals depends on the specific clinical situation. For most forms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, early endoscopy is the cornerstone of diagnosis and management. It can predict and improve clinical outcomes. A variety of endoscopic and pharmacologic modalities are effective at achieving and maintaining hemostasis. The optimum means of evaluation and treatment of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding is less clear and is now evolving. Endoscopy (usually expectant, less often early) is widely used and effective for diagnosis but has unproven therapeutic benefits. Angiography is effective (diagnostically and/or therapeutically) in certain situations. Surgery offers the opportunity for definitive therapy at the cost of higher morbidity. At this time, the approach to evaluation and management should be based on the specific clinical situation and available local expertise.

Acute Disease↗

Occult gastrointestinal bleeding.

Occult gastrointestinal bleeding commonly manifests as iron deficiency anemia or fecal occult blood. Iron deficiency anemia results from chronic occult gastrointestinal bleeding. Evaluation of asymptomatic patients who have iron deficiency anemia or fecal occult blood usually should begin with investigation of the colon. Colonoscopy is preferred, but flexible sigmoidoscopy plus air contrast barium enema, or computed tomographic colonography may be acceptable in certain circumstances. If evaluation of the colon does not reveal a bleeding site, evaluation of the upper gastrointestinal tract is mandatory in patients who have iron deficiency anemia, and this should be considered in those who have fecal occult blood. In patients who have gastrointestinal symptoms, evaluation of the portion of the gastrointestinal tract from which the symptoms is derived should be pursued initially. The role of small intestinal investigation is controversial, and this probably should be reserved for patients who have iron deficiency anemia and persistent gastrointestinal symptoms or those who fail to respond to appropriate therapy. Celiac sprue should be considered as a potential cause of iron deficiency anemia in all patients. The treatment and prognosis of patients who have iron deficiency anemia or fecal occult blood depends on the gastrointestinal tract abnormality(ies) identified. Those without identifiable bleeding sites generally respond to conservative management and have a favorable prognosis. On the other hand, the outlook is poorer for patients with refractory occult blood loss or those who have vascular ectasias. Both groups of patients are clinically challenging and require a focused and experienced team approach to diagnosis and therapy.

Algorithms↗

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding remains an important medical emergency. Most lower gastrointestinal bleeding is now known to come from angiodysplasia or diverticular disease. Accurate angiographic and colonoscopic diagnosis may lead to a better focus for treatment and improved survival.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

Current therapy for nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding continues to plague physicians despite the discovery of Helicobacter pylori and advances in medical therapy for peptic ulcer disease. Medical therapy with new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and somatostatin/octreotide and intravenous proton pump inhibitors provides hope for reducing the incidence of and treating bleeding peptic ulcer disease. Endoscopic therapy remains the mainstay for diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Many methods of endoscopic hemostasis have proven useful in upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Currently, combination therapy with epinephrine injection and bicap or heater probe therapy is most commonly employed in the United States. Angiography and embolization play a role primarily when endoscopic therapy is unsuccessful.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

A new view of occult and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Occult gastrointestinal bleeding usually is discovered when fecal occult blood test results are positive or iron deficiency anemia is detected. Fecal occult blood testing methods vary, but all have limited sensitivity and specificity. The initial work-up for occult bleeding typically involves colonoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or both. In patients without symptoms indicating an upper gastrointestinal tract source or in patients older than 50 years, colonoscopy usually is performed first. About one half of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding do not have an obvious source of the bleeding. In those patients, small bowel imaging or repeat panendoscopy may be performed. Barium studies of the small bowel are widely available but have limited diagnostic utility. Mucosal lesions such as vascular ectasias, a common cause of obscure bleeding, may be missed by small bowel studies. Small bowel endoscopy is difficult to perform but has a higher diagnostic yield. Capsule endoscopy is a newer technique that allows noninvasive small bowel imaging. Radionuclide red blood cell scans or angiography may be useful in patients with active bleeding. Treatment of bleeding most often involves endoscopic ablation of the bleeding site with thermal energy, if the site is accessible. Angiographic embolization may be used to treat lesions that cannot be reached endoscopically. Diffuse vascular lesions, which are not uncommon, are difficult to treat. Medical treatment, usually with combined hormone therapy, has limited utility. Surgical treatment of obscure bleeding often fails or is not feasible because of multiple bleeding sites.

Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal↗

Gastrointestinal bleeding. Advances in the management of gastrointestinal bleeding.

The management of patients with major gastrointestinal haemorrhage remains a significant challenge. While technological advances have certainly occurred and will continue, it is likely that greater benefit will accrue from the application of simple measures than by any of these new techniques. For example, the concentration of these patients into a single unit dealing with this condition will probably lead to a greater reduction in the overall mortality rate than the application of laser photocoagulation, electrocoagulation, or any other of the methods described above. Finally, a wider recognition of the factors that lead to a poor prognosis following surgery (which remains the final management for most patients) and how they may be prevented should produce a reduction in the mortality rate.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗

Severe gastrointestinal bleeding.

Severe gastrointestinal bleeding is a common cause of admission of the elderly to intensive care units. Differentiation between upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding is made on the basis of history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. Therapy is based in part on the severity of the bleeding episode and on the cause of the hemorrhage. Therapeutic intervention may involve medical therapy, endoscopic therapy, angiographic therapy, and surgery. Patient outcome is often related to other underlying disease states.

Age Factors↗

Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding ranges from occult blood loss to massive hemorrhage and shock. There are many causes but diverticulitis and angiodysplasia remain the most common sources of major hemorrhage. This article emphasizes the cause and evaluation of moderate to severe acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Acute Disease↗

Scintigraphic demonstration of acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

Acute gastrointestinal bleeding may be localized using noninvasive radionuclide methods. We have favored the use of technetium-99m sulfur colloid with sequential imaging because of the rapid clearance of background activity. Definition of the site of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, however, may be obscured by intense uptake of radioactivity by liver and spleen. The sensitivity of the method is such that the bleeding rates of 0.05-0.1 ml/min can be detected compared to a sensitivity of 0.5 ml/min for angiography.

Acute Disease↗