Colonic Diverticular Bleeding Associated with Bowel Cleansers before Colonoscopy

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopy
• Pathology

Background:

• Colonic diverticular bleeding is a common cause of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
• The role of bowel cleansers in precipitating this condition has not been previously documented.
• Understanding the endoscopic and pathological characteristics of this bleeding is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Observation:

• A patient presented with sigmoid colon diverticular bleeding after using a polyethylene glycol-based bowel cleanser.
• Colonoscopy revealed active bleeding from diverticula in the sigmoid colon.
• Pathological examination confirmed diverticular disease as the source of bleeding.

Findings:

• This is the first reported case of colonic diverticular bleeding associated with a bowel cleanser.
• The endoscopic findings included active bleeding from colonic diverticula.
• Pathological features confirmed the diverticular origin of the hemorrhage.

Implications:

• Bowel cleansers may be an underrecognized trigger for colonic diverticular bleeding.
• Clinicians should consider bowel cleanser use in patients presenting with diverticular bleeding post-cleansing.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanism and incidence of this association.