Provocative mesenteric angiography for localizing ambiguous gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Objectives: Five percent of patients with recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage have indeterminate origin by radiological and endoscopic examinations. To improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic embolization, the technique of provocative mesenteric angiography (PMA) has been developed. It involves the addition of pharmacologic agents to standard angiographic protocols to induce bleeding. Material and Methods: This is an institutional review board-approved, retrospective study of 20 patients who underwent PMA between 2014 and 2019. All patients had clinical evidence of GI hemorrhage without a definite source. PMA consisted of anticoagulation with 5000 units of heparin and selective transcatheter injection of up to 600 μg of nitroglycerine, followed by slow infusion of up to 24 mg of tissue plasminogen activator into the arterial distribution of the highest suspicion mesenteric artery. Results: Among the 20 patients who underwent PMA, 11/20 (55%) resulted in angiographically visible extravasation. Of these 11 patients, nine patients underwent successful embolization with coil or glue and were discharged upon achieving hemodynamic stability. Two patients spontaneously stopped bleeding. In our series, PMA resulted in the successful treatment of 9/20 (45%) patients with recurrent hemorrhage. No procedure-associated complications were reported with these 20 patients during the procedure and their course of hospitalization. Conclusion: In our experience, PMA is an effective and safe approach in localizing and treating the source of GI bleeding in about half of patients with an otherwise unidentifiable source.

Video Capsule Endoscopy In Comparison To Radiological Examination In Detection Of Small Bowel Lesions

BACKGROUND Small bowel obscured its lesions as secrets which were difficult to diagnose before video capsule endoscopy as a new modality for investigation. Aim of the study Evaluation of video capsule endoscopy in comparison to radiological examination in detection of small bowel lesions. Patients and methods Fifty patients were recruited from Kafrawy Video Capsule Endoscopy Unit of Internal Medicine Department and endoscopy unit of Ain Shams University Hospital. The study included patients with occult or overt GIT bleeding, patients with unexplained microcytic iron deficiency anemia, patients with chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain, with normal upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy. Exclusion of any patient younger than 18 years old, has intestinal stricture, achalasia, or dysphagia. All patients were studied biochemically with CBC and radiological by CT pelvis and abdomen with IV and oral positive contrast some of them were radiologically examined with CTE or CT mesenteric angiography. All patients were endoscopically examined by OGD, colonoscopy, VCE, and some of them were examined also with enteroscope. Results The study revealed that the detection rate of SB lesions with VCE was 84%. In the current study, (44%) of cases had AVMs, (72.73) % of them were above the age of forty five, and (27.27) % were below the age of forty five. All patients who were investigated with CT mesenteric angiography revealed negative results. In this study (20) % of patients had SB masses and polyps, (70) % of them were at age of forty five or more and only (30) % of them were below the age of forty five. All patients underwent CT pelvis and abdomen with IV and oral positive contrast, and we found that all patients had a negative results regarding the SB lesions. In comparison between CTE and VCE in detection of SB vascular lesions CTE did not detect SB vacular lesions. On the other hand, VCE detected the AVMs in the cases with negative CTE results. In this study one patient (2)% was diagnosed with hookworm infection. All patient underwent for OGD. We found that (20)% of patients had a significant gastric or duodenal lesions (proximal to the papilla) by VCE but missed by upper GI endoscopy. In our study the concomitant of VCE and enteroscope increase the detection of SB vascular lesions than isolated use of VCE only. Conclusion VCE has a high detection rate of SB lesions (84)%. CTE has a low significance in detection of SB vascular lesions and CT mesenteric angiography sensitivity relatively low. AVMs more common with increasing the age. PHE and SB ectopic varicies, were found to be common causes of GIT bleeding in CLD patient. There is a significant rate of missed gastric and duodenal (proximal to the papilla) lesions that the cause of GIT bleeding and unexplained iron deficiency anemia in OGD examination that were detected by VCE.

Hematochezia in a 1.5-Year-Old Child Diagnosed as a Colonic Arteriovenous Malformation

Vascular anomalies are an uncommon cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in childhood. These malformations may present with diverse symptoms, while gastrointestinal bleeding is the most common. Regarding diagnosis, these lesions may be detected by endoscopy, but only the mucosal component of them is assessable by this modality. Definitive diagnosis is best achieved by selective mesenteric angiography. We report a rare case of a 1.5-year-old child who presented with the complaint of hematochezia, which, after examination and evaluation, was found to be due to an intestinal arteriovenous malformation. Therapy of these malformations includes different modalities such as coagulation, embolization and surgical resections. Reviewing the literature, this is the first report in pediatric surgery literature of the laparoscopic approach for symptomatic high flow arteriovenous malformation, especially at this incredibly young age.