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An unusual cause for massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding in children: Dieulafoy's lesion

Dinçer Avlan1, Ali Nayci, Engin Altintaş

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Mersin University, School of Medicine, Zeytinlibahçe, Mersin, 33070, Turkey. dinceravlan@yahoo.com

Pediatric Surgery International
|April 5, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Dieulafoy's lesion, a rare cause of severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding in children, can occur in the proximal stomach. This case highlights successful epinephrine injection treatment for a 3-year-old boy with massive bleeding from this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

Background:

  • Dieulafoy's lesion is an uncommon cause of significant upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • It typically affects the proximal stomach, presenting a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in pediatric patients.

Observation:

  • A 3-year-old boy presented with massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
  • The bleeding source was identified as a Dieulafoy's lesion in the proximal stomach.

Findings:

  • The Dieulafoy's lesion was successfully treated with endoscopic epinephrine injection.
  • This intervention effectively controlled the massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Implications:

  • Epinephrine injection is a viable and effective treatment for Dieulafoy's lesions in pediatric patients.
  • This case underscores the importance of considering Dieulafoy's lesion in the differential diagnosis of severe pediatric upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

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