Esophageal varices presenting as lower GI bleed in an infant: a rare presentation

GI Bleeding is a common problem encountered in the emergency department and in the primary care settings. Lower GI Bleeding is relatively rare as compared to upper GI bleeding. Common causes of lower GI Bleeding are Polyp (32.5%), chronic nonspecific colitis (20.7%), lymphoid nodular hyperplasia (20%), Proctitis (18.2%), Solitary rectal ulcer (10%), Inflammatory bowel disease (6.5%).Among the various causes of lower GI Bleeding, esophageal varices is a rare cause. One such case presented to us with lower GI bleeding, on further evaluation was found to having esophageal varices due to portal hypertension. Child improved after conservative and definitive management.

Dieulafoy’s Lesion – An unusual cause of acute abdominal pain in a child

Dieulafoy’s disease is a rare cause of abdominal pain and G I bleeding. A 10 year old girl having recurrent abdominal pain, GI bleeding and epistaxis. Ileal nodularity and prominent submucosal vessels seen in CT angiogram. Child underwent surgical treatment with favorable outcome. Diuelafoy’s disease can cause bleeding at multiple sites due to abnormal dilated vessels.

Stromal Tumor of the Jejunum Complicated by Hemorrhagic Shock-A Case Report.

Stromal tumors of the small bowel, commonly known as GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors) are mesenchymal tumors of uncertain prognosis. They develop in the wall of the digestive tract. They are usually asymptomatic, incidentally discovered during endoscopy or during surgery. Identifying gastrointestinal stromal tumor is facilitated by a relatively specific marker, c-kit. Diagnosis is confirmed by histological examination of the surgical specimen. They pose two problems first is to confirm the diagnosis and second problem is to assess their evolutionary potential and customize the therapeutic management. We report the case of a patient aged 34 years with no history of prior illness. He was admitted a year ago in the emergency room in a state of hemorrhagic shock due to lower gastro intestinal (GI) bleeding for three days. The patient underwent conservative therapy with I.V fluids and blood transfusions. An endoscopic assessment consisting of upper and lower GI(UGIE and colonoscopy) was done but that did not reveal any abnormalities. Surgical exploration revealed a tumor 1 meter distal to the ligament of Treitz. Rest of the exploration was unremarkable. The tumor along with small bowel was resected and end anastomosis was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. Histological study of the surgical specimen confirmed that this was a stromal tumor with low potential of malignancy. The staging did not reveal any secondary lesions. Stromal tum often asymptomatic, lower GI bleeding is an exceptional way of presentation. Complete resection of the tumor is the treatment of choice. The recent development of targeted therapies and molecular biology is a new hope in the treatment of these tumo review the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this disease, and explain that hemorrhagic shock can be due to jejunal stromal tumor.

Caracterización de los pacientes con hemorragia de vías digestivas altas no varicosa en un hospital de tercer nivel de Cundinamarca, Colombia / Characterization of patients with non-varicose upper GI bleeding at a Level 3 Hospital in Cundinamarca, Colombia

La hemorragia de vías digestivas altas (HVDA) es una emergencia habitual; su etiología más común es laúlcera péptica. La restauración del volumen intravascular y la presión arterial son la prioridad del manejo previo al identificar la causa del sangrado. La esofagogastroduodenoscopia (EGD) debe realizarse luego de lareanimación inicial, así como lograrse la estabilización hemodinámica, para identifi car la causa del sangradoy dar el tratamiento necesario. Se realiza un estudio sobre el evento en un hospital de referencia de tercernivel, en Cundinamarca, Colombia.Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo; datos obtenidos de la historia clínica electrónica de pacientes adultos que consultaron por urgencias en el Hospital Universitario de la Samaritana (HUS) por HVDA, diagnosticada por hematemesis, melenas, rectorragia o anemia, y a quienes se les realizó EGDdurante el periodo abril de 2010-abril de 2011. Resultados: Se atendió a 385 pacientes a lo largo del período de estudio; se excluyó a 100 de ellos,debido a hemorragia secundaria a várices esofágicas, historia clínica incompleta y hemorragia digestivabaja, para un total de 285 pacientes analizados. Conclusiones: La mayoría de la población atendida en el Hospital Universitario de La Samaritana (HUS)por HVDA son adultos mayores de 60 años. La úlcera péptica sigue siendo el diagnóstico más común asociadoal uso de AINE y ASA. La mortalidad es comparable a la de las regencias internacionales.

Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding is a common emergency whose most common etiology is a peptic ulcer.Restoration of intravascular volume and blood pressure management are priorities before identifyingthe cause of bleeding. After initial resuscitation and after hemodynamic stabilization has been achieved, anesophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) should be performed to identify the cause of bleeding and determinethe treatment needed. This is a study performed at a third level referral hospital in Cundinamarca, Colombia.Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of data from electronic medical records of adult patients admitted to the emergency room of the Hospital Universitario de la Samaritana (HUS) because of uppergastrointestinal tract bleeding which ahd been diagnosed because of hematemesis, melena, rectal bleedingand/or anemia. Patients all underwent EGD between April 2010 and April 2011.Results: 385 patients with upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding were seen during the study period, but 100were excluded because of bleeding secondary esophageal varices, incomplete clinical histories and lowergastrointestinal bleeding. A total of 285 patients were included. 69.1 % were older than 60 years, 73.3 % hadhypertension, 55.1 % reported use of infl ammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin (ASA), 19.6 % reported previous bleeding episodes, and 17.9 % had hemodynamic instability. 63 patients (22.1 %) required endoscopichemostasis, and 32 (11.2 %) experienced rebleeding. Overall mortality reported was 13.1 % of which 55.3 %were men. Mortality attributable to gastrointestinal bleeding was 3.1 %.Conclusions: The majority of patients served by the HUS with upper GI bleeding are adults over 60 years.Peptic ulcers remain the most common diagnosis associated with the use of NSAIDs and ASA. The mortalityrate is comparable to international standards.

Outcome of Upper Gastro Intestinal Haemorrhage - a Hospital Based Prospective Study.

Upper GI bleeding is a common medical emergency with a significant mortality, outcome of which depends upon the cause, appropriate and early intervention in a specialized center. This study was carried out to see the outcome of patient with Upper GI haemorrhage. Fifty cases with episode of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, admitted into medicine units of Faridpur Medical College Hospital from January 2011 to December 2011, were studied. Duodenal ulcer was the commonest cause of haematemesis and melaena followed by oesophageal varices, gastric ulcer and erosive gastritis. The peak incidence was among 35 to 45 years of age. Over all male female ratio was 4.55:1 but in case of duodenal ulcer it was 9:1. During hospital stay recurrent bleeding was noted in 10% of patients and during subsequent follow up it was 10% of the total and 50% in case of variceal bleeding group. Over all hospital mortality was 4% .

Nasopharyngeal bleeding due to leech bites in a 9-month-old infant.

Leeches are annelids, comprising the subclass Hirudinea. There are freshwater, terrestrial and marine leeches. Haemophagic leeches attach to their hosts and remain there until they become filled up with blood and then they fall off to digest. Leech bites can manifest various symptoms, which lead to anemia. Here is reported, a case of leech bites in a 9-month-old infant, with a long history of hematemesis, melena, epistaxis and anemia which demanded repeated transfusions. So, leech bites may be a differential diagnosis of anemia particularly in the endemic rural areas where villagers use non boiled water.

Diagnostic Approach of Lower GI Bleeding in Children / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Lower GI bleeding is one of the common and difficult problems in the practice of general pediatrics. Causes of bleeding are various but somewhat age-specific in children. A specific diagnosis can usually be made with a accurate history taking, physical examination, included rectal exam, simple laboratory investigations, and appropriate diagnostic studies. Further evaluations can be unnecessary if the patient have a small amount of bleeding and stable vital sign. But precise investigation included abdominal sonography, endoscopy, Meckel's scan, and bleeding scan, are needed on a case by case. Treatment should be directed at the underlying cause. In most children, bleeding ceases spontaneously, and only supportive therapy is necessary. If there is evidence of hypovolemia, the patient must be hemodynamically stabilized, active bleeding stopped, and recurrent bleeding prevented. This review included age-specific cases such as Allergic proctocolitis, Meckel's diverticulum, Juvenile polyps, Henoch-scholein purpura, and Crohn disease, of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in children. Also it will assist the physician in determining appropriate assessment and treatment for children with lower GI bleeding through the usual cases.

A Case of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Concomittantly Presented with GI Bleeding and Its Gastrofiberscopic Findings / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (T~EN) is a severe mucocutaneous disease characterized by epidermal necrosis possibly extended to the entire body surface and involving multiple internal organs. Digestive tract may be involved too, but there is few report about gastrointestinal lesion in patient with TEN. Recently we experienced a case of TEN with gastrointestinal bleeding in previously healthy 32-year-old woman. The condition developed three days after the initiation of treatment with NSAID and progressed caudally, involving 60 percent of the skin surfaces. During a period of admission gastrointestinal bleeding was noticed. The gastrofiberscopy showed diffuse superficial mucosal lesion with oozing from swollen friable and erythematous mucosa. The skin lesion was progressed inspite of withdrawal of causative agents. The patient was expired due to combined septic shock 10 days later. We report this case with gastrofiberscopic findings and a brief review of literature.

A Case of Cavernous Hemangioma of Stomach / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A 44-year-old woman who comlpained of dizziness and generalized weakness was admitted. The hemoglobin was 6.6g/dL, hematocrit 25.5%, and serum ferritin 2.14 ng/mL Stool occult blood was positive and microcytic hypochromic anemia was found on periyheral blood smear. Gastroscopic examination showed about 2 x 1 cm sized hemispherical sebmucosal tumor on antrum. The patient underwent operatioh for confirmatory diagnosis and treatment. The final pathologic diagnosis of the resected lesion was hemangioma of stomach. Cavernous hemangioma of stomach is a rare disease.Mostly, it has a benign course clinically, but early diagnosis is important because massive hemorrhage and anemia by chronic blood loss can occur. We report a case of hemangioma of stomach with review of literature.