Related Experiment Videos
Vasopressin control of massive hemorrhage in chronic ulcerative colitis
Insights
Massive colonic hemorrhage in quiescent ulcerative colitis was controlled using transcatheter vasopressin infusion. Giant pseudopolyps in chronic ulcerative colitis were identified as the bleeding source.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Interventional Radiology
Background:
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
- Massive colonic hemorrhage can occur even in quiescent UC.
Observation:
- A case of massive colonic hemorrhage in a patient with nontoxic, quiescent ulcerative colitis is presented.
- Selective superior mesenteric arteriography identified the source of active colonic bleeding.
Findings:
- Transcatheter vasopressin infusion successfully controlled the active colonic bleeding.
- Subsequent colectomy revealed chronic ulcerative colitis with localized giant pseudopolyp formation near the splenic flexure as the bleeding source.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare cause of massive hemorrhage in UC.
- Interventional radiology techniques can effectively manage severe colonic bleeding in UC patients.
- Surgical intervention may be necessary for definitive management of bleeding pseudopolyps in UC.
Abstract:
A case of a massive colonic hemorrhage in nontoxic, quiescent ulcerative colitis is described. The source of active colonic bleeding was primarily defined with selective superior mesenteric arteriography and was completely controlled with transcatheter vasopressin infusion. A suubsequent elective segmental distal transverse and descending colectomy revealed chronic ulcerative colitis; localized marked inflammatory giant pseudopolyp formation near the splenic flexure was responsible for the bleeding.