Bleeding colonic ulcers secondary to atheromatous microemboli after left heart catheterization

Atheromicroembolism after aortic or cardiac catheterization is frequently found at autopsy but rarely recognized in life, perhaps because many cases are asymptomatic. We report two patients who, after left heart catheterization, developed gastrointestinal hemorrhage from a solitary colonic ulcer caused by occlusive atheromicroemboli in submucosal vessels. We briefly review the spectrum and pathogenesis of atheromicroembolic injury to the gastrointestinal tract. Atheromicroemboli, which occlude vessels too small to be visualized by angiography, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients who have undergone aortic instrumentation.