Hazardous repeat bleeding after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection in a patient with immune...

A 76-year-old man diagnosed with early-stage colorectal cancer was referred to our hospital for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The patient had a low platelet count (31,000/µL) due to immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The cancerous lesion was completely resected without any adverse events. A blood test performed 1 day post-ESD showed no progression of anemia and the initial postoperative course was uneventful. However, 7 days after ESD, dark red stools were observed, and we performed an emergency colonoscopy. We stopped the bleeding twice using hemoclips and hemostatic forceps. Since the patient's platelet count remained below 50,000/µL, we started thrombopoietin receptor agonist treatment with eltrombopag (12.5 mg/day) for thrombocytopenia. Although the platelet count increased, the patient experienced rebleeding for the fourth time and underwent an emergency colonoscopy, during which we used an over-the-scope clip (OTSC) to achieve hemostasis. No rebleeding occurred after OTSC intervention, and the platelet count stabilized at approximately 50,000/µL. We discharged the patient on Day 34 after ESD. Although the guidelines do not specify a target platelet count for performing ESD, a platelet count < 50,000/µL should be considered low. Furthermore, an OTSC may be useful for treating intractable bleeding.