[Severe lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage in adults. Apropos of 38 cases]

Retrospective study of 38 cases of serious intestinal or rectal hemorrhage in the adult occurring between 1974 and 1987 demonstrated a wide variety of lesions responsible. Malignant tumours (21%) and ischemic lesions (13%) were most often implicated. Colonic diverticulosis and angiodysplasia were each responsible for 8% of cases. The most effective means of exploration were rectosigmoidoscopy and coelio-mesenteric arteriography together with per-operative endoscopy. The diagnosis remained uncertain in only 8% of cases. Treatment was essentially surgical (32 patients). Post-operative mortality (26%) was high, in keeping with the severity of the lesion responsible for the hemorrhage. Serious lower intestinal hemorrhage requires a two-fold management: the institution of intensive care resuscitation and as soon as the patient state permits, etiological investigation. After recto-sigmoidoscopy, which generally allows lower intestinal hemorrhage to be eliminated, arteriography and per-operative colonoscopy have in our experience a high diagnostic yield in cases of persistent hemorrhage. Where bleeding stops spontaneously, colonoscopic examination, after suitable preparation, remains a worthwhile investigation.