Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is an extremely rare but lethal cause of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Characteristic symptoms are mid-thoracic pain, sentinel minor hemorrhage, and massive hemorrhage after a symptom-free interval. Prompt diagnosis and immediate treatments are necessary to reduce mortality. However, AEF is difficult to diagnose because it is uncommon and often leads to death with massive bleeding before proper evaluation. We report a case of endoscopic diagnosis of AEF that did not present with hematemesis; it was treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and surgery. A 71-year-old female presented to the emergency department with epigastric discomfort. Endoscopy demonstrated a submucosal tumor-like protrusion and pulsating mass with blood clots. Contrast-enhanced chest CT confirmed AEF due to descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. The patient immediately underwent TEVAR to prevent massive bleeding and subsequently underwent surgery. Endoscopists should consider AEF if they see a submucosal tumor-like mass with a central ulcerative lesion or a pulsating protrusion covered with blood clots in mid-esophagus during an endoscopy.
Aged ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Diagnosis* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Fistula* ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hematemesis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ulcer

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare and potentially fatal disease that causes massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent mortality. Controlling the massive bleeding is the most important aspect of treating AEF. The traditional surgical treatment was emergent thoracotomy, but intraoperative or perioperative mortality was high. We report a case of a patient presenting with hematemesis who was successfully treated by a staged treatment, in which bridging thoracic endovascular aortic repair was followed by delayed surgical repair of the esophagus and aorta.
Aorta ; Early Diagnosis ; Esophagus ; Fistula ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Thoracotomy

An iatrogenic internal carotid artery (ICA) pseudoaneurysm is an extremely rare complication of cervical spine surgery. Here we report an extraordinary case of massive hematemesis due to a ruptured ICA pseudoaneurysm caused by the laminoplasty plate 10 years after cervical spine surgery. Computed tomography angiography revealed a ruptured 4×10-mm left extracranial ICA pseudoaneurysm probably connected to the pharynx. Emergent surgery was performed because of the uncontrolled massive bleeding. After complete resection of the injured segment, an interposition graft with a 6-mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft was placed and the fistula tract to the pharynx was repaired.
Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Fistula ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Laminoplasty ; Pharynx ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Spine ; Transplants

Gastric duplication cysts (GDCs) are rare congenital anomalies. Presentation of GDCs varies from an asymptomatic abdominal mass to fulminant or massive gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Herein, we describe a case of a GDC in a 10-month-old infant presenting with unexplained massive GI hemorrhage and hematemesis. An abdominal ultrasound was negative, while computerized tomography was, initially, inaccessible. Through a series of repeated esophagogastroduodenoscopies, we documented penetration of the GDC into the gastric cavity that was later confirmed by computerized tomography. The patient was treated successfully with surgical resection.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography

Epiphrenic diverticula are known to cause a series of complications. We report the case of a 54-year-old woman who was diagnosed with an epiphrenic diverticulum at a regular checkup in November 2006. Ten years later, she presented with massive hematemesis. Imaging studies revealed an epiphrenic diverticulum measuring 7.8 cm in diameter and a large amount of bleeding inside the diverticulum. Computed tomography showed fistula formation between the diverticulum and the left lower lobe of the lung, leading to the development of a pulmonary abscess. Diverticulectomy and 180° posterior partial fundoplication were performed transabdominally. The pulmonary abscess was treated with antibiotics alone. She was discharged 16 days after the operation without any complications over 7 months of follow-up.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Diverticulum ; Diverticulum, Esophageal ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fundoplication ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Abscess ; Middle Aged

Morus alba L., known as white mulberry, is a medicinal plant belongs to family Moraceae. It has long been used commonly in Ayurvedic for the treatment of lung-heat, cough, asthma, hematemesis, dropsy and hypertension. In the present study, seven prenylated flavonoids, along with four benzofuran compounds were isolated by means of repeated column chromatography. The structures of the known compounds were identified as kuwanon G (1), kuwanon E (2), kuwanon T (3), morusin (4), sanggenon A (5), sanggenon M (6), sanggenol A (7), moracin R (8), mulberofuran G (9), mulberofuran A (10) and mulberofuran B (11), by comparing their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. For these isolates, containing trace compounds, the inhibitory activity against IL-6 production in TNF-α stimulated MG-63 cells was examined. All isolated compounds (1
Asthma ; Chromatography ; Cough ; Edema ; Flavonoids ; Hematemesis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Interleukin-6 ; Moraceae ; Morus ; Plants, Medicinal

We report a 12-month-old female infant who had a history of neonatal sepsis with liver micro-abscesses that resolved with intravenous antibiotics during neonatal period. During her neonatal admission period, no umbilical vein catheter was inserted. Also, she did not undergo any abdominal surgeries or had a postnatal history of necrotizing enterocolitis. However, the child developed upper gastrointestinal bleeding in form of hematemesis and melena secondary to esophageal varices at the age of 12 months with an extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction with cavernous transformation and portal hypertension subsequently. The child underwent a successful endoscopic injection sclerotherapy. She is now 20-month-old and has portal hypertension but otherwise asymptomatic. We are proposing the possibility of a delayed-onset portal hypertension as a complication of liver abscess and neonatal sepsis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Child ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Female ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Infant ; Liver Abscess ; Liver ; Melena ; Portal Vein ; Sclerotherapy ; Sepsis ; Umbilical Veins ; Venous Thrombosis

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis associated with various clinical manifestations and complications, such as gastrointestinal abnormalities. We report a 3-year-old boy who presented with hematemesis and diffuse gastroduodenal ulcerations complicating KD. He received standard medical therapy for the disease and gastric ulcer, which showed effect after a few days. Although rare, peptic ulcers should be considered a complication of KD to ensure early diagnosis and treatment as it may cause severe morbidity.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Early Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Hematemesis ; Humans ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Peptic Ulcer ; Stomach Ulcer ; Systemic Vasculitis

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is commonly performed for feeding difficulties, in patients suffering from complications of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its treatment, namely radiotherapy and surgery. This case report describes the challenges in hemostasis and subsequent re-establishment of enteral access for feeding, in an elderly patient with a history of NPC, treated surgically, followed by radiotherapy, who presented with massive hematemesis following reinsertion of her PEG shortly after an accidental dislodgement. Her previous nasopharyngectomy, wide field radiation therapy, and radical neck dissection precluded nasogastric tube feeding, and the presence of a large hiatus hernia made reinsertion of a new PEG technically challenging. This case highlights the methods used to overcome the above challenges.
Aged ; Enteral Nutrition ; Esophageal Stenosis ; Gastrostomy ; Hematemesis ; Hemostasis ; Hernia, Hiatal ; Humans ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; Neck Dissection ; Radiotherapy ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer

Gastric tuberculosis accounts for approximately 2% of all cases of gastrointestinal tuberculosis. Diagnosis of gastric tuberculosis is challenging because it can present with various clinical, endoscopic, and radiologic features. Tuberculosis manifesting as a gastric subepithelial tumor is exceedingly rare; only several dozen cases have been reported. A 30-year-old male visited emergency room of our hospital with hematemesis and melena. Abdominal CT revealed a 2.5 cm mass in the gastric antrum, and endoscopy revealed a subepithelial mass with a visible vessel at its center on gastric antrum. Primary gastric tuberculosis was diagnosed by surgical wedge resection. We report a rare case of gastric tuberculosis mimicking a subepithelial tumor with acute gastric ulcer bleeding.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Male ; Melena ; Pyloric Antrum ; Stomach Ulcer ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal