Post-traumatic pancreatitis with associated aneurysm of the splenic artery: report of 2 cases and review of the literature.

In patients with acute pancreatitis, profuse gastrointestinal bleeding is associated with a high death rate. The cause of such bleeding must be evaluated and the bleeding controlled urgently. Aneurysm formation is usually the cause of the bleeding. Angiography is needed to make a definitive diagnosis and the bleeding site should be controlled by angiographic embolization if possible. If this fails, aneurysm resection is necessary. Two patients are described. Both had aneurysms of the splenic artery, presenting as massive gastrointestinal bleeding in one patient and bleeding into an associated pseudocyst in the other. They required surgical repair, which was successful in both cases.     

Diverticular disease-associated hemorrhage in the elderly

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is frequent in the elderly secondary to diverticular disease and occurs in about 10-30%. It is the most frequent cause of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage (about 40% of cases) followed by angiodysplasia (up to 20% of cases). The incidence of both diseases increase with age, but the patient's general condition and state of health decrease. Often cardiovascular morbidity coexists, resulting in an eventual risk of ischemic consequences. The intensity of bleeding varies from massive to occult. In diverticular disease, hemorrhage is caused by rupture or erosion of the vasa recti stretched by diverticula. Classically inflammation is absent. Although most diverticula (> 90%) are located in the sigmoid colon, bleeding originates more frequently from the right (> 50%) than the left colon. The preferred diagnostic tool following resuscitation is colonoscopy with an ability to locate the site of bleeding in up to 90% of cases. Additionally, injections and thermocoagulation are available to control bleeding endoscopically with a success rate of about 27%. Angiography is considerably variable concerning positive results (13.6-86%), has a complication rate of about 10% and is expensive. Hence, it is a second-line diagnostic method. Diverticular hemorrhage will cease spontaneously in about 90% of cases. Therefore, conservative treatment is preferred. Patients with persistent, massive or recurrent bleeding despite active conservative measures require surgical treatment. If surgical intervention is necessary, the site of hemorrhage must be sought to allow segmental resection. However, if the source of blood loss cannot be located, a subtotal colectomy is justified.     

Current therapy for nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding continues to plague physicians despite the discovery of Helicobacter pylori and advances in medical therapy for peptic ulcer disease. Medical therapy with new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and somatostatin/octreotide and intravenous proton pump inhibitors provides hope for reducing the incidence of and treating bleeding peptic ulcer disease. Endoscopic therapy remains the mainstay for diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Many methods of endoscopic hemostasis have proven useful in upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Currently, combination therapy with epinephrine injection and bicap or heater probe therapy is most commonly employed in the United States. Angiography and embolization play a role primarily when endoscopic therapy is unsuccessful.     

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding: Diagnostic approach and management conclusions

The management of patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding requires a systematic approach based on defined diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Although in 80 percent of patients bleeding will stop spontaneously, 25 percent will have rebleeding and 50 percent of those with rebleeding will bleed again. Angiography documents specific bleeding sites but raises questions related to the incidence, site and frequency of bleeding, as well as the necessity of demonstrating extravasation. We reviewed 49 arteriograms performed for lower gastrointestinal bleeding. We conclude from our findings that angiography identifies a presumptive cause of bleeding in 49 percent of patients; angiography identified the site of bleeding in 86 percent of the patients with active bleeding, thus allowing segmental colectomy. We believe that documentation of angiodysplasia in a patient with lower gastrointestinal bleeding is presumptive evidence for the site of bleeding. Angiography is useful and worthwhile in the work-up of patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding in an attempt to plan localized, definitive resection, and this may lead to a lower mortality rate.     

Angiodysplasia of the large intestine: unusual rectal localization

The authors report a case of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a 69-year-old male, in which the sequence colonoscopy-angiography identified the source of bleeding as a rare Angiodysplasia (AD) of the rectum. Such vascular abnormalities are one of the most common causes of major lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding in the elderly and usually occurs predominantly in the right side of the colon. The clinical presentation of Angiodysplasia is varied and accurate diagnosis usually requires a combination of diagnostic techniques such as colonoscopy and angiography. The optimal management is uncertain and should be individualized for each patient depending on severity and rate of rebleeding. A conservative medical approach is indicated for many patients, while endoscopic treatment does not seem modify the risk of recurrent bleeding. In case of massive hemorrhage or recurrent bleeding surgery still represents the definitive treatment for Angiodysplasia. However the risk of rebleeding following surgery is a considerable problem and varies in literature from 5% to 30%.     

The importance of laparotomy in the diagnosis and management of intestinal bleeding of obscure origin

Thirty-seven patients who had had either a colonoscopy or a selective mesenteric angiogram while being investigated for severe or persistent gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin were reviewed. Failure to make a prompt diagnosis was partly responsible for the 16% hospital mortality in the series. Colonoscopy was diagnostic on 6 out of 38 examinations but detected 43% of lesions in the colon. Angiography achieved only 3 diagnoses in 17 examinations. Fourteen patients had an exploratory laparotomy which was diagnostic in 9. We believe that early laparotomy still has an important place in the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal bleeding of obscure origin.     

Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding as a late complication of spinal instrumentation

Posterior or anterior fusion with spinal instrumentation is a well-known operation for scoliosis. There are multiple potential complications; the most common are blood loss during the initial surgery and wound infection. Vascular injury has been reported. However, to the authors' knowledge, acute gastrointestinal bleeding has not been reported. The authors report on a child who presented 6 years after posterior spinal instrumentation with massive acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding resulting from internal iliac artery injury and bowel perforation. The etiology, diagnosis, and management of such bleeding is reviewed.     

49例小肠出血的临床分析

目的 探讨小肠出血的诊断方法，方法 回顾性分析49例小肠出血的临床资料。结果 肿瘤21例（42.9%)，以良性肿瘤多见；感染性疾病12例（24.5%)；憩室8例（16.3%)；血管畸形6例（12.2%)，各种检查的阳性率，核素扫描76.9%，血管造影58.9%，肠系X线25%，术后再出血5例，短肠综合征1例。结论 小肠出血以肿瘤最常见，感染性疾病值得重视。核素扫描憩室的阳性率高，选择性血管造影对血管病变及富含血管的病变有较高的诊断价值，肠系X线对实质性病变及憩室的诊断率较高，剖腹探查结合术中内镜可以提高诊断率。     

胃癌大出血26例临床分析

目的 探讨胃癌大出血的临床特点及其诊治方法.方法 回顾性分析26例胃癌大出血病人的临床资料.结果 胃癌大出血的临床特点主要表现为:呕血,排柏油样大便或暗红色血便,约半数病例可出现失血性休克征象.26例均经纤维胃镜检查确诊为胃癌,其中限期手术22例,急诊手术3例,放弃手术1例.26例中,治愈出院25例,死亡1例.结论 胃...     

Massive hemorrhage from the celiac axis in pancreatitis

Four patients with massive hemorrhage from the celiac axis secondary to pancreatitis are presented. There were three survivors. Celiac axis arteriography was useful in making the diagnosis and determining operative management. Extended gastric resection was required in three patients. An early and continued aggressive diagnostic approach is indicated in patients with chronic pancreatitis and/or pseudocyst and significant upper gastrointestinal bleeding.     

Massive hemorrhage in a patient with intestinal Behçet's disease: report of a case

Major gastrointestinal bleeding is a rare manifestation of intestinal Behçet's disease. We report herein the case of a 64-year-old man with intestinal Behçet's disease complicated by myelodysplastic syndrome who suffered massive hemorrhage. Colonoscopy demonstrated ulceration of the entire colon from the cecum to the rectum, characterized by punched-out ulcers. Angiography demonstrated apparent extravasation of contrast material in the terminal ileum, and embolization was not successful. Continued and massive bleeding necessitated surgical resection of the involved segment of ileum; however, massive bleeding recurred. Re-endoscopy showed oozing hemorrhage from the multiple colon ulcerations. Intra-arterial prednisolone injection therapy was given, following which the melena gradually subsided and completely stopped within a few days.     

Investigative modalities for massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of various diagnostic modalities in the assessment of patients with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The charts of all patients admitted to a McGill University affiliated teaching hospital with the diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal bleeding over a 25-year period were reviewed. There were 136 patients who underwent 202 admissions. The information documented included demographics on age, gender, co-morbid disease, prescribed medications, requirements for blood transfusions, orthostatic change in blood pressure, acute drop in hematocrit (to <30%), and exclusion of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Among the 202 admitted patients there were 116 men and 86 women), with an average age of 70 years (range 16-95 years). At least one significant medical disease was found in 93% of these patients; and 20% were on aspirin and 5% on anticoagulants at the time of diagnosis. Rigid or flexible sigmoidoscopy was performed in 68 and 18 patients, respectively, with a definitive diagnosis made in 2.9% and 11.0%, respectively. Colonoscopy was performed in 152 cases, 20 of which were incomplete; a specific diagnosis was made for 59 admissions (45%). A red blood cell or colloid scan was performed on 53 patients, with extravasation noted in 13 (24.5%); a localized site of bleeding was identified in 9 cases (17%). Angiography was performed on 31 patients with bleeding sites localized in 6 (19%). Barium enemas were completed in 85 of 92 patients, and the presumptive cause of bleeding was identified in 72% of those with a complete examination. The most common causes identified were diverticulosis in 52 patients and angiodysplasia in 14. The cause of bleeding was not detected in 48 (35%). Bleeding stopped in most patients spontaneously, with only 7 requiring operation. The average number of units transfused was 3 (range 0-26). Scintigraphy and angiography were less efficacious than colonoscopy for localizing the site and etiology of the bleeding. Despite the combination of investigative modalities, a definitive diagnosis was not made in 35% of the admitted patients. The need for operative intervention in our study was lower than in most previous reports.     

Management of pancreatic arteriovenous malformation

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformations (AVM), while extremely rare, are frequently complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding. The elimination of pancreatic AVM is difficult once portal hypertension has developed. We describe herein a patient with congenital AVM of the pancreatic head presenting with recurrent episodes of melena, in whom pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy provided a means of definitive management. We also review the literature and focus on the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Angiography is always necessary to facilitate tactics of treatment, even if diagnosis has been established by non-invasive imaging modalities. To obtain complete regression, total extirpation of the affected organ, or at least the involved portion, should be performed before this disease leads to the lethal complications of gastrointestinal bleeding and portal hypertension. Transcatheter arterial embolization is the only alternative treatment for the control of hemorrhage. Received: January 27, 2000 / Accepted: April 6, 2000     

Colonoscopic diagnosis and treatment of lower gastrointestinal bleeding

Methods of diagnosis and treatment of lower gastrointestinal bleeding depend on the rate of bleeding and the amount of blood lost. If bleeding is occult, colonoscopy is the single best way to determine the source, if bleeding is gross but mild, causing melena or small amounts of hematochezia, colonoscopy or a combination of flexible sigmoidoscopy and double-contrast barium enema should be used to evaluate the colon. In most patients with melena, the upper tract must be examined endoscopically. Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding stops spontaneously in 75 to 90 per cent of patients, permitting preparation of the colon before colonoscopy. If bleeding is continuing, diagnostic options include colonoscopy with no preparation of the colon, relying on the cathartic effect of blood, or a red cell radionuclide scan followed by angiography if the scan is positive. A bleeding lesion seen on angiography is usually treated by infusion of vasopressin. Colonoscopic treatment of a bleeding site uses the BICAP probe, heater probe, or argon laser. Patients who bleed severely and those who do not respond to treatment or rebleed after treatment are candidates for operation. Segmental resection is preferred if the bleeding site is known. If not, total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis may be necessary. A mortality rate of 10 to 15 per cent in patients with severe bleeding reflects the advanced age of many of these patients and the difficulty of managing gastrointestinal bleeding in the presence of associated medical conditions.     

Splenosis. A cause of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Splenosis is the autotransplantation of splenic tissue following surgery or trauma. While it has been reported to cause a number of complications, splenosis is most commonly an incidental finding at laparotomy or on imaging studies. In our study, a case of massive, acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred secondary to splenosis involving the small bowel. While there are several reports of self-limited gastrointestinal hemorrhage secondary to splenosis involving the gastric fundus, we are aware of no reports of massive, acute intestinal bleeding caused by this condition. Splenosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients who have experienced prior splenic trauma or splenectomy.     

Imaging of gastrointestinal bleeding

Radiological techniques are important in evaluating patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Scintigraphic, computed tomographic angiographic, and enterographic techniques are sensitive tools in identifying the source of bleeding and may be useful in identifying patients likely to have a benign course and in selecting patients for therapeutic intervention. Angiography plays a key role in bleeding localization, and modern embolization techniques make this a viable therapeutic option. With the refining developments in body imaging and related reconstructive techniques, it is likely that radiological interventions will play an expanding and critical role in evaluating patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the future.     

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the brachial artery

Detection and treatment of vascular injuries in extremity and pelvic trauma can be challenging. Angiography, while no longer routinely used in asymptomatic patients, is still a primary means of diagnosis. Appropriate patient selection based on physical examination, along with other less invasive imaging modalities, can decrease the need for angiography while still detecting the vast majority of clinically significant injuries. Angiography also plays a definitive therapeutic role in most cases of significant hemorrhage in the pelvis through precise identification and selective embolization of bleeding vessels.     

腹部手术后腹腔干分支假性动脉瘤消化道瘘的临床分析：附5例分析

目的:总结分析腹部手术后腹腔干分支假性动脉瘤消化道瘘导致的迟发性消化道大出血的诊断和治疗。方法:回顾性分析自2013年1月—2014年9月腹部肿瘤术后上消化道大出血经造影证实腹腔干分支假性动脉瘤消化道瘘的5例患者的临床资料。结果:5例患者消化道出血时间平均为术后53.6 d;假性动脉瘤位于脾动脉2例,位于肝总动脉2例,位于左肝动脉1例;造影后行栓塞治疗4例,行覆膜支架置入1例。无术后严重并发症及围手术死亡病例。随访时间6~16个月,无再次假性动脉瘤破裂出血,肝总动脉覆膜支架置入患者于8个月猝死,原因未明。结论:腹腔干分支假性动脉瘤消化道瘘是腹部手术后罕见而又致命的并发症,应提高该病的认识,其诊断及治疗首选动脉造影及血管腔内治疗,避免医源性损伤可能是减少该病发生的关键。     

The so-called angiodysplasias of the digestive system

The chapter on angiodysplasias of the gastrointestinal tract raises numerous, still problematic, issues: classification of the disorder (its clinical presentation and classification) its anatomo-pathological identification diagnosis of its nature and localization treatment of patients with acute massive bleeding long-term outcomes The possibility that an angiodysplasia underlies a bleeding event, even serious, makes this a timely topic. The exiguity of the lesion responsible for bleeding entails noteworthy diagnostic difficulties. By contrast, the relative rarity of such events, as well as of pertinent evidence in literature, do not allow a better understanding of the disease or, above all, its management. Nevertheless, it is important to bear the disorder in mind when faced with massive bleeding of unknown origin.     

Molecular mechanisms of traumatic brain injury: the missing link in management

Background

Cholecystectomy has been the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstones, but remains the greatest source of post-operative biliary injuries. Laparoscopic approach has been recently preferred because of short hospitalisation and low morbidity but has an higher incidence of biliary leakages and bile duct injuries than open one due to a technical error or misinterpretation of the anatomy. Even open cholecystectomy presents a small number of complications especially if it was performed in urgency. Hemobilia is one of the most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding from the biliary ducts into the gastrointestinal tract due to trauma, advent of invasive procedures such as percutaneous liver biopsy, transhepatic cholangiography, and biliary drainage.

Methods

We report here a case of massive hemobilia in a 60-year-old man who underwent an urgent open cholecystectomy and a subsequent placement of a transhepatic biliary drainage.

Conclusion

The management of these complications enclose endoscopic, percutaneous and surgical therapies. After a diagnosis of biliary fistula, it's most important to assess the adequacy of bile drainage to determine a controlled fistula and to avoid bile collection and peritonitis. Transarterial embolization is the first line of intervention to stop hemobilia while surgical intervention should be considered if embolization fails or is contraindicated.