BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little information is available on the rate and predictive factors of rebleeding of unknown cause, which is very important in deciding further investigations on obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rebleeding rate and related factors in obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding patients who revealed normal gastroscopic and colonoscopic findings. METHODS: A total of 69 patients with negative first-line gastroscopy and colonoscopy were enrolled in this study as obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding cases. The relationships between rebleeding and clinical characteristics were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The causes of obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding were confirmed in 30 cases among the 69 cases. Small bowel tumors (14 cases) were the most common cause, followed by vascular lesions (6 cases). The mean follow-up period was 28 months and rebleeding was noticed in 19 patients (27.5%). Among these rebleeding patients, 14 cases (73.7%) occurred within 6 months. The past experience of previous bleeding was significantly related with rebleeding (p=0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: Close observation and detailed investigations are needed for obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding patients with bleeding history, especially during 6 months follow-up.
Adult ; Aged ; Angiodysplasia/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/diagnosis/*etiology ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases/complications/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors

A 68-year-old woman with known severe aortic stenosis was admitted to the hospital because of hematochezia and dizziness. She had received several blood transfusions over the preceding 3 years and undergone right hemicolectomy 2 years ago for severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Postoperative histology revealed angiodysplasia involving the ascending colon. After the hemicolectomy, she continued to have hematochezia and anemia and required additional blood transfusions for anemia. During this admission, platelet count, activated partial-thromboplastin time, von Willebrand factor antigen, and von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor were normal. She had a severe deficiency of high-molecular-weight multimers of von Willebrand factor. Colonoscopy showed angiodysplasia in the transverse colon at this time. Successful coagulation of the bleeding angiodysplasia was achieved by argon plasma coagulator. No additional bleeding was observed thereafter. We report a case of Heyde's syndrome with abnormal von Willebrand factor in a patient who presented with intestinal angiodysplasia and aortic stenosis.
Aged ; Anemia/etiology/therapy ; Angiodysplasia/*complications ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/*complications ; Colonic Diseases/*complications ; English Abstract ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*etiology ; Humans ; Syndrome ; von Willebrand Disease/*complications/diagnosis

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is the most common infection in liver cirrhosis patients, and is not a result of surgery or intra abdominal infection. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is an endoscopic procedure used with a high-frequency electrical current for control of bleeding from gastrointestinal vascular ectasias including angiodysplasia and gastric antral vascular ectasia. This procedure is known to be safe because it uses a noncontact method. Therefore, tissue injury is minimal and up to two to three millimeters. However, we experienced a case of SBP occurring immediately after performance of APC for control of severe bleeding from angiodysplasia in the colon in a patient with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Aged ; Angiodysplasia/complications/*diagnosis ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; *Argon Plasma Coagulation ; Bacterial Infections/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/diagnosis ; Colonic Diseases/complications/*diagnosis ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/therapy ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications/diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis ; Peritonitis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology