Related Experiment Videos
Colonic varices. Report of a case
W H Isbister1, C W Pease, B Delahunt
1Department of Surgery, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
Diseases of the Colon and Rectum
|June 1, 1989
Summary
Colonic varices caused significant bleeding in a 14-year-old girl. Surgical removal of affected colon segments successfully stopped the bleeding, offering a treatment option for this rare condition.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Vascular Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Colonic varices are rare causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly in pediatric patients.
- Diagnosis can be challenging due to normal findings in initial standard investigations.
Observation:
- A 14-year-old female presented with severe colonic bleeding.
- Initial investigations including upper endoscopy, bowel radiography, and mesenteric vascular studies were unremarkable.
- Colonoscopy revealed submucosal varices in the hepatic flexure and sigmoid colon.
Findings:
- Operative findings confirmed dilated subserosal vascular channels in the right colon.
- Histological examination did not reveal obvious arteriovenous communications.
- Right hemicolectomy was performed to address the bleeding source.
Implications:
- Surgical resection can be an effective treatment for colonic varices causing significant hemorrhage.
- This case highlights the importance of colonoscopy in diagnosing obscure lower GI bleeding when initial vascular studies are negative.
- Further research into the etiology and optimal management of pediatric colonic varices is warranted.