Hidden Source for Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

ABSTRACT

A 50-year-old lady presented with bloody vomiting and melena since four days prior to admission. Her medical history was significant only for hypertension which was controlled by a 5 mg daily dose of amlodipine. She occasionally took NSAIDs. On admission, the physical exam revealed only mild tachycardia and pallor. Hemoglobin was 9.7 g/dl, which subsequently declined to 7.9 g/dl. The first upper gastrointestinal [GI] endoscopy was remarkable for a paraesophageal hiatal hernia, with no site of bleeding detected. The second upper GI endoscopy did not find any source for bleeding. A third endoscopic examination revealed a new finding [Figures A and B]