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Severe acute bleeding from portal colopathy controlled by somatostatin: a case report

S S Rana1, U Dutta, S K Sinha

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical education and research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.

Tropical Gastroenterology : Official Journal of the Digestive Diseases Foundation
|February 3, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Portal hypertensive colopathy, a cause of severe gastrointestinal bleeding, can be effectively managed. Somatostatin infusion successfully controlled bleeding from angiodysplasia-like lesions in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Hepatology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Portal hypertensive colopathy (PHC) is a recognized complication in patients with portal hypertension.
  • PHC can manifest as significant lower gastrointestinal bleeding, posing a life-threatening risk.
  • Unlike variceal bleeding, established treatment protocols for PHC bleeding are lacking.

Observation:

  • A patient with alcoholic cirrhosis and portal hypertension presented with bleeding from colonic angiodysplasia-like lesions.
  • The bleeding was severe and characteristic of portal hypertensive colopathy.
  • Standard treatments for variceal bleeding were not applicable to this condition.

Findings:

  • Somatostatin infusion was administered to manage the gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • The treatment resulted in effective control of bleeding from the colonic lesions.
  • This suggests somatostatin as a potential therapeutic option for PHC.

Implications:

  • Somatostatin infusion may represent a viable, non-invasive treatment strategy for portal hypertensive colopathy.
  • Further research is warranted to establish the efficacy and safety of somatostatin in managing PHC.
  • This case highlights a potential therapeutic avenue for a challenging clinical entity.

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