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Jejunal leiomyosarcoma, a rare cause of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding diagnosed by wireless capsule endoscopy.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is a relatively frequent disorder and may account for as many as 5% of all cases of gastrointestinal bleeding. The etiology of these hemorrhages may be attributed to lesions in the small intestine, which may not show up in radiologic studies, located in areas inaccessible to conventional endoscopy. The case of a 50-year-old patient admitted to the hospital on two occasions for gastrointestinal bleeding requiring blood transfusions is reported. On the first occasion, the bleeding was thought to be caused by a duodenal ulcer because no other lesions prone to bleeding were found. At the next admission for recurrent bleeding, the ulcer was found to have healed and thus was ruled out as the cause. Wireless capsule endoscopy detected an ulcerated tumor invading the submucosa of the jejunum. The pathologic diagnosis was low-grade leiomyosarcoma. Wireless capsule endoscopy has proved to be far superior to other radiologic and endoscopic techniques for the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and pathologies of the small intestine in general.

Blood Transfusion↗

Gastrointestinal bleeding. Radiological diagnosis.

Gastrointestinal haemorrhage is a common clinical problem that often presents the clinician with difficulties in diagnosis. The increasingly important role of endoscopy has resulted in a change of emphasis in the radiological investigation of bleeding: while barium studies are still an important part of the investigative sequence in most patients they no longer occupy the central position in diagnosis they once held, despite considerable improvements in technique. At the same time angiography and interventional radiological techniques are becoming progressively more important in the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal bleeding. In acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage angiography provides not only one of the most accurate techniques for the localization of bleeding (Boijsen and Reuter, 1967) but also the therapeutic option of embolization. In chronic gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin angiography may be the only modality of investigation that can successfully locate a microvascular abnormality. In the assessment of portal hypertension angiographic and interventional techniques may provide both physician and surgeon with information vital to the successful management of the patient.

Acute Disease↗

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding associated with antiplatelet drugs.

BACKGROUND: The risk of major upper gastrointestinal bleeding associated with various antiplatelet drugs and the protection conferred by gastroprotective agents are not well defined. AIM: To estimate the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding associated with the use of antiplatelet drugs and its prevention by gastroprotective agents. METHODS: In a case-control study, we compared all cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding from a gastric or duodenal lesion in patients over 18 years of age (2813 cases), with 7193 matched controls. Odds ratios of upper gastrointestinal bleeding for individual antiplatelet drugs with adjustment for potential confounders were estimated. RESULTS: The individual risks of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were cardiovascular acetylsalicylic acid 4.0 (3.2-4.9), clopidogrel 2.3 (0.9-6.0), dipyridamole 0.9 (0.4-2.0), indobufen 3.8 (1.2-12.2), ticlopidine 3.1 (1.8-5.1) and triflusal 1.6 (0.9-2.7). Concomitant proton pump inhibitors decreased all risk estimates. For acetylsalicylic acid plus a proton pump inhibitor, the odds ratio was 1.1 (0.5-2.6). As a group, antiplatelet drugs accounted for 14.5% of all cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, i.e. 58 per million per year (334 per million per year among those older than 70 years). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding is substantially decreased by the concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors. The risk of acetylsalicylic acid plus a proton pump inhibitor seems lower than that of ticlopidine or clopidogrel.

Adult↗

Angiography in chronic/recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding: a nine year study.

Undiagnosed chronic/recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, as defined, is a severe problem to those afflicted, both physically and psychologically as well as socioeconomically. During the past nine years, 60 such patients received aortography and panvisceral arteriography (that is, celiac, superior mesenteric, and inferior mesenteric arteriography) in a search for the lesions that may be responsible for the bleeding. Results of angiography were "positive" in 26 patients for a diagnostic yield of 43 per cent. Fifteen of the 26 patients with positive angiographic findings demonstrated arteriovenous malformations of the gastrointestinal tract. Two separate lesions were identified in three patients. This series is compared with other published series of angiography for chronic gastrointestinal bleeding. One difference from the other series is the demonstration of three patients with arteriovenous malformation of the gastric antrum. The diagnostic angiographic features of this condition are presented, along with the interestng finding of état mammelonné in two of the three patients. Another difference from the other series is the demonstration of four arteriovenous malformations involving the left side of the colon, whereas other series report none in this location. One possible explanation for this descrepancy is our routine use of inferior mesenteric arteriography in all cases of chronic gastrointestinal bleeding. Ten arteriovenous malformations of the colon are reported along with a review of the angiographic diagnostic features in this condition. The precise incidence of false-positive and false-negative diagnoses is unknown since surgery was not performed on all patients. However, each patient studied represented a total failure, by traditional diagnostic studies, to determine the cause of bleeding. The incidence of positive findings with angiography (43 per cent) in patients with undiagnosed chronic/recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding is sufficient to encourage the continued use of panvisceral arteriography in this condition.

Adult↗

From clinical evidence to everyday practice: implementing findings from a cost-effectiveness analysis for endoscopic injection therapy for upper-gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: A previous upper-gastrointestinal bleeding trial showed that patients treated with repeated fibrin glue injection for upper-gastrointestinal bleeding have significantly less rebleeding than those treated with polidocanol. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the cost and effectiveness of repeated fibrin glue injection and to investigate whether these results change physicians' attitudes. DESIGN: A retrospective random sample of five hospitals from the previous study, collection of cost identification, and follow-up data on 320 patients (155 in the polidocanol group, 165 in the fibrin glue group). METHODS: An incremental cost-effectiveness analysis and comparison of outcomes was performed using chi-squared tests and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. A survey was carried out using a questionnaire in the five hospitals on local guidelines for management of ulcer bleeding, and its results were analysed qualitatively. The measure of effectiveness is the number of prevented rebleedings. Further variables were length of hospital stay and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay. RESULTS: The cost for the prevention of one additional rebleeding by repeated fibrin glue treatment amounts to 14,316 +/- 4981 euros (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio). There were no significant differences in length of stays in ICU or in hospital. The physicians did not change their management plans for patients with upper-gastrointestinal bleeding. In a survey, it was seen that other factors, such as local guidelines, attitudes towards new treatment options, and ease of handling of drugs, are more important than a result of a single study for a behavioural change of the doctors. CONCLUSIONS: The study was not designed prospectively to address a pharmacoeconomic question. As relevant variables (e.g. length of ICU stay) could not be reliably ascertained retrospectively, this may lead to biased estimates of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

Hemosuccus pancreaticus from a traumatic gastroduodenal pseudoaneurysm: an unusual cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Hemosuccus pancreaticus, blood entering the gastrointestinal tract through the pancreatic duct, is a rare and elusive form of gastrointestinal bleeding with diagnostic difficulties. We report a 37-year-old man who had recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding from erosion of a pseudoaneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery into the pancreatic duct. The lack of history of pancreatitis, associated symptoms, equivocal endoscopic findings, and the rarity of this entity resulted in a delay in diagnosis. Pancreatic duct stenosis detected during surgery suggested the lesion might have been caused by blunt abdominal trauma. A nearly total pancreatectomy and splenectomy were performed. The patient remained symptom-free 8 months after the operation. This obscure cause of gastrointestinal bleeding should be considered when common causes of bleeding have been ruled out, even in the absence of pancreatitis.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Selective management of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

The management of lower gastrointestinal bleeding has evolved from a number of technological advances allowing precise diagnosis and localization of the bleeding site. This study of 40 angiographically demonstrated lower gastrointestinal bleeding lesions reinforces much of the data indicating the diagnostic and therapeutic trends. Twenty-four patients had bleeding diverticula with angiographic demonstration in 11 patients. Seven cases of vascular ectasia were identified, and nine patients had a variety of significant bleeding sites other than the two main sites that were listed. Pitressin was useful for control of bleeding in six of seven diverticular patients but was less useful in the vascular ectasia group in which only one patient was actively bleeding. Total abdominal colectomy and segmental resection were successful in control of hematochezia in 24 of 25 operative cases. Sixteen patients did not require surgical treatment.

Aged↗

Gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a problem encountered frequently in the elderly. This article reviews its diagnosis and management, focusing on issues particularly relevant in geriatric care. The article begins with an overview of acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and follows with more focused descriptions of upper GI bleeding, lower GI bleeding, and the growing problem of bleeding of obscure origin. The article concludes with recommendations for the evaluation of positive fecal occult blood tests.

Aged↗

[Diagnostic utility and clinical impact of capsule endoscopy in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Preliminary results].

INTRODUCTION: Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) represents from 5 to 10% of all episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnosis is difficult to make because in most cases it originates in the small bowel. Radiological methods have low sensitivity and push enteroscopy does not allow for examination of the whole length of the small bowel. Capsule endoscopy is a recently introduced method which allows for the complete examination of the small bowel. Only a few studies have assessed its clinical impact. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic yield and the clinical impact of capsule endoscopy in patients with OGIB. METHOD: 28 patients were studied: 9 with iron deficiency anemia (32%), 14 with melena (50%) and 5 with melena and hematochezia (32%). They were 16 men and 12 women. Median values were: age 53 years (range 18-87), hemoglobin 7 g/dL (4-11), endoscopic and radiologic studies 4 (2-8), hospital admissions 3 (1-5) and transfused blood units 5 (0-52). RESULTS: Capsule endoscopy detected bleeding and nonbleeding lesions in 23 patients (82%). The diagnoses were: angiodysplasia in 10 patients (36%); ulcers in 7 (25%) and neoplasm in 6 (21%). In 12 patients (43%) findings motivated the performance of other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures: 8 patients were operated on (6 with neoplasm and 2 with stenotic ulcers); 3 received endoscopic treatment for angiodysplasia and ulcers; and one patient was submitted to ileoscopy with biopsy for Crohn's disease. There were no complications and good tolerance was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Capsule endoscopy had a diagnostic yield of 82% and a clinical impact of 43% in this highly selected group of patients with OGIB in whom no other endoscopic or radiologic procedures could lead to the diagnosis.

Adult↗

The role of Doppler ultrasound in gastrointestinal bleeding.

The management of acute gastrointestinal bleeding is the domain of endoscopy. More than half of all episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding are attributed to bleeding peptic ulcers, and it is important to assess the risk of recurrent bleeding and to determine the appropriate treatment. However, the visual assessment of lesions (Forrest classification) is not always accurate and shows high interobserver variability (especially for visible vessels at the ulcer base, associated with a high rate of re-bleeding). Doppler ultrasound was thus introduced, and several studies have demonstrated that, with Doppler examination, these vessels can be identified. Doppler ultrasound is also used to monitor the effects of endoscopic therapy. In a prospective randomized trial, Doppler ultrasound proved superior to the Forrest classification. Treatment based on this technique resulted in significantly lower rates of re-bleeding and mortality. The Doppler classification may be able to contribute to a safer and more cost-effective management of patients with acute peptic ulcer bleeding.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Gastrointestinal bleeding in the hospitalized patient: a case-control study to assess risk factors, causes, and outcome.

PURPOSE: To determine the risk factors, etiology, and outcome of clinically important gastrointestinal bleeding that occurs after hospital admission (nosocomial gastrointestinal bleeding). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cases consisted of consecutive patients who developed gastrointestinal bleeding more than 24 hours after admission to the hospital. Cases were compared with two control populations: a set of hospitalized patients without gastrointestinal bleeding matched with cases for age, gender, and length of stay; and all patients admitted to the hospital with clinically important gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding during the study period. Case and controls were compared with respect to risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding and outcomes. Data were obtained through a comprehensive review of medical records. RESULTS: Clinically important nosocomial gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in 67 inpatients after a mean hospital length of stay of 14 +/- 10 days. The majority (64%) of the patients were not hospitalized in the intensive care unit at the onset of the bleeding. Seventy-two percent of the patients who developed bleeding had been receiving some form of bleeding prophylaxis. In a multivariate analysis, a prior intensive care unit stay (odds ratio 2.5; 95% confidence interval 1.0 to 6.1; P <0.05) and mechanical ventilation (OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.1 to 10.7; P = 0.03) were independent risk factors for the onset of bleeding. Nosocomial gastrointestinal bleeding was associated with poor outcome, with an associated mortality of 34%. Duodenal ulcer disease was the most common source of nosocomial gastrointestinal bleeding, accounting for 36% of cases overall. Nosocomial ulcer bleeders were less likely to have a previous history of ulcer disease (13% versus 50%; P <0.05) Helicobacter pylori infection (14% versus 62%; P <0.0001), chronic active gastritis (29% versus 91%; P <0.0001), or to be taking NSAIDs (48% versus 68%; P <0.08) than patients admitted to the hospital with ulcer bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal bleeding remains an important complication of hospitalization, with a high associated mortality. Our current approaches to prevention of this complication are imperfect. Bleeding tends to occur after a prolonged hospital stay and is more likely to occur in patients with more severe underlying illnesses. Duodenal ulcer disease is the most common source of this bleeding. Nosocomial gastroduodenal ulcer disease is distinct in etiology from the ulcer disease that occurs in outpatients.

Adult↗

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding following renal transplantation.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding has been shown to be a common complication of renal transplantation and one which carries a significant risk of mortality. In a retrospective review of 200 consecutive renal transplants in 194 patients, we found an incidence of only 6 per cent and a mortality rate of 8.3 per cent. Allograft survival in this group of patients was 58 per cent. These results are the product of careful preoperative evaluation, close attention to the patients for early signs of bleeding, and aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic intervention at the first evidence of bleeding. We also report an association of hypercalcemia with post-transplant upper gastrointestinal bleeding, with cessation of bleeding after parathyroidectomy.

Antacids↗

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding: etiology and management.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a potentially fatal condition at times due to loss of large volumes of blood. Common sources of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in children include mucosal lesions and variceal hemorrhage (most commonly extra hepatic portal venous obstruction) and, in intensive care settings infections and drugs are other etiological factors associated with bleeding. Massive upper GI bleeding is life threatening and requires immediate resuscitation measures in the form of protection of the airways, oxygen administration, immediate volume replacement with ringer lactate or normal saline, transfusion of whole blood or packed cells and also monitoring the adequacy of volume replacement by central venous lines and urine output. Upper GI endoscopy is an effective initial diagnostic modality to localize the site and cause of bleeding in almost 85-90% of patients. Antacids supplemented by H2- receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors and sucralfate are the mainstay in the treatment of bleeding from mucosal lesion. For variceal bleeds, emergency endoscopy is the treatment of choice after initial haemodynamic stabilization of patient. If facilities for endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) are not available, pharmacotherapy which decreases the portal pressure is almost equally effective and should be resorted to. Shunt surgery is reserved for patients who do not respond to the above therapy. Beta blockers combined with sclerotherapy have been shown to be the most effective therapy in significantly reducing the risk of recurrent rebleeding from varices as well as the death rates, as compared to any other modality of treatment. Based on studies among adult patients, presence of shock, co-morbidities, underlying diagnosis, presence of stigmata of recent hemorrhage on endoscopy and rebleeding are independent risk factors for mortality due to upper GI bleeding. Rebleeding is more likely to occur if the patient has hematemesis, liver disease, coagulopathy, hypotension and or anemia. There is a great need for conducting therapeutic trials as well as identifying predictors of outcome of upper GI bleeding in children to develop evidence based management protocols.

Adolescent↗

Technetium-99m RBC bleeding images in normal subjects: confusion with gastrointestinal bleeding sites.

The normal appearance of a gastrointestinal bleeding study using labeled red blood cells has been discussed frequently, but the actual appearance is not well known. In this atlas article, the authors report on unusual findings in non-bleeding subjects and have tabulated the visualization of various structures. Vascular structures other than the aorta and inferior vena cava were seen in 42 of 48 patients. One or both kidneys were seen in 10 (21%) of 48 patients. The urinary bladder was seen in 23 (48%) of 48 patients, although gastric activity caused by free pertechnetate was never observed.

Erythrocytes↗

[Gastrointestinal bleeding]

OBJECTIVE: To present an analysis of the occurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding in children and emphasize: i) diagnostic methods; ii) the organized use of different therapeutic approaches in upper gastrointestinal bleeding; iii) the review of concepts, classifications and techniques used in endoscopy, which are important to the practice of clinical pediatrics. METHODS: Literary review of chapters selected from textbooks, pertinent articles obtained through the Medline system and active search, as well as personal archives belonging to the authors. RESULTS: The differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding in children varies according to the age. The causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding are subdivided into variceal and nonvariceal. Nonselective beta-blockers are recommended to prevent variceal bleeding. Vasoactive drugs, such as somatostatin, octreotide, and glypressin may be used, showing good results in both variceal and nonvariceal acute bleeding. Both sclerotherapy and variceal ligation can be used in children to achieve variceal eradication. Cyanoacrylate is effective and presents the lowest complication rate related to gastric variceal bleeding. The presence of hemorrhage stigmata, such as active bleeding and visible vessel in ulcers is indicative of a higher risk for recurrent bleeding, suggesting the need for endoscopic hemostasis. Proton pump inhibitors are more efficacious than H2-receptor antagonists to promote the peptic ulcer healing. CONCLUSION: The correct etiologic diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding in children is fundamentally important to adopt the adequate therapeutic approach, whose main advances concern the pharmacological and the endoscopic treatment.

Journal Article↗

Review article: the role of antisecretory therapy in the management of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Non-variceal, upper gastrointestinal bleeding accounts for 300,000 hospitalizations annually in the US and the risk of rebleeding and mortality remain high. The aim of this study was to review the incidence and causes of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, criteria for early discharge, risk stratification and intravenous vs. oral proton-pump inhibitor use. Peptic ulcer disease accounts for 45% of all admissions for upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Clinical and endoscopic predictors of adverse outcome have been identified. The Rockall scoring system identifies patients who can be considered for early discharge after endoscopy. Evidence supports the use of intravenous proton-pump inhibitor therapy for patients with bleeding ulcers associated with high-risk stigmata. Patients who are clinically stable and in whom upper endoscopy has shown an ulcer with a clean base or a flat pigmented spot have a low risk for rebleeding and may be discharged early on oral proton-pump inhibitor therapy. Proton-pump inhibitor treatment reduces ulcer rebleeding but does not affect overall mortality. In the US, most patients with ulcer bleeding have low-risk stigmata, and thus, can be treated with oral proton-pump inhibitors and discharged early.

Administration, Oral↗

Selective jejunal artery pseudoaneurysm embolization in a patient with massive gastrointestinal bleeding due to intestinal tuberculosis.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a life-threatening manifestation of intestinal tuberculosis that is generally attributed to oozing of blood from the mucosal ulcers. We report a case of intestinal tuberculosis presenting with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding from jejunal artery pseudoaneurysm diagnosed with angiography and successfully embolizated by histoacril (glue).

Adolescent↗

Use of technetium-labeled autologous red blood cells in detection of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Twenty patients with occult gastrointestinal bleeding underwent diagnostic evaluation with autologous TcRBC imaging, which identified a locus of bleeding in 19. Bleeding was demonstrated in the esophagogastroduodenal area in four patients, the cecum in four patients, the ascending colon or hepatic flexure in nine patients and the descending colon in two patients. In the six patients who underwent surgical intervention, the source of bleeding had been correctly located by imaging. The advantages of imaging over those of conventional arteriography included its minimally invasive nature and its ability to detect areas of intermittent minimal bleeding for a period of 30 hours. The major disadvantages of the technique were that localization of the site of bleeding was not as precise as that obtained with arteriography, imaging could not be used as a treatment modality and the nature of the lesion could not be defined. However, we believe that, as an adjunct to conventional angiography and other techniques, autologous TcRBC imaging will improve the localization of obscure foci of gastrointestinal bleeding. Studies are underway to determine the proper place of TcRBC imaging in the gastroenterologic armamentarium. Its noninvasive nature and sensitivity to intermittent hemorrhage suggest that it may become the initial investigative modality of choice in many instances.

Adult↗