Challenges in diagnosing and management of gastrointestinal bleeding

In summary, a 62-year-old male on dual antiplatelet therapy came due to severe melena with suspicion of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Due to hemodynamic instability, the patient was intubated and started on vasopressors. However, several repeated EGDs and CTs of the abdomen with GI bleeding protocol did not reveal the location of active bleeding to stop it. At the same time, clinically, the patient was hemodynamically unstable with continued melena.

On the last EGD, a small area of concern resembling gastric varix was clipped for identification purposes, and the patient underwent a selective angiogram with further diagnosis of Dieulafoy’s lesion, which was successfully embolized.

Our case demonstrates that Dieulafoy’s lesions can present as severe life-threatening hemorrhage, hard to diagnose with traditional methods such as EGD or CTs, in which case it is recommended to proceed with an angiogram sooner rather than later for further diagnosis and treatment if needed.

Interested to read more? Here is the link:

https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=131951


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