A Neonate with Upper GI Bleeding

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Neonatal bleeding poses significant risks, including cardiovascular compromise and potential neurological damage.
• Gastric polyps are gastric mucosal or submucosal lesions, presenting varied clinical symptoms in children, from asymptomatic findings to severe hemorrhage.
• While gastric polyps are known causes of gastrointestinal bleeding in children, acute bleeding from hyperplastic gastric polyps in neonates is exceptionally rare.

Observation:

• A rare case of a newborn experiencing acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding on the second day of life is presented.
• The bleeding was found to be secondary to a gastric polyp.
• The gastric polyp was successfully diagnosed and removed using endoscopic procedures.

Findings:

• This case underscores the potential for gastric polyps, even hyperplastic types, to cause significant upper gastrointestinal bleeding in neonates.
• Endoscopic diagnosis and resection proved effective in managing this rare neonatal surgical emergency.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of considering gastric polyps in the differential diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in newborns.
• Demonstrates the feasibility and efficacy of endoscopic intervention for managing gastric polyps causing acute bleeding in neonates.
• Contributes to the limited literature on neonatal gastric polyps and associated severe hemorrhage, informing clinical practice and future research.