Management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: Comparison of guidelines between Japan and other countries

A nomogram to predict in-hospital mortality of gastrointestinal bleeding patients in the intensive care unit

Background

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common condition in clinical practice, and predictive models for patients with GIB have been developed. However, assessments of in-hospital mortality due to GIB in the intensive care unit (ICU), especially in critically ill patients, are still lacking. This study was designed to screen out independent predictive factors affecting in-hospital mortality and thus establish a predictive model for clinical use.

Methods

This retrospective study included 1,442 patients with GIB who had been admitted to the ICU. They were selected from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) 1.0 database and divided into a training group and a validation group in a ratio of 7:3. The main outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. Least absolute shrinkage and section operator (LASSO) regression was used to screen out independent predictors and create a nomogram.

Results

LASSO regression picked out nine independent predictors: heart rate (HR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), acute physiology score III (APSIII), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), cerebrovascular disease, acute kidney injury (AKI), norepinephrine, vasopressin, and dopamine. Our model proved to have excellent predictive value with regard to in-hospital mortality (the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.906 and 0.881 in the training and validation groups, respectively), as well as a good outcome on a decision curve analysis to assess net benefit.

Conclusion

Our model effectively predicts in-hospital mortality in patients with GIB, indicating that it may prove to be a valuable tool in future clinical practice.

A Case of Small Bowel Arteriovenous Malformation Diagnosed Using Multiphase CT Angiography and Digital Subtraction Angiography

Small bowel arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare vascular lesion, which should be considered in patients presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding, as it is a high-flow arterial lesion that can cause life-threatening bleeding. Although a primary endoscopic examination is performed in cases of suspected small bowel bleeding, the diagnosis of the causal lesion is sometimes difficult. We are presenting a case of small bowel AVM that could not be diagnosed endoscopically but was successfully detected using multiphase CT images with an appropriate protocol. The AVM diagnosis was confirmed using digital subtraction angiography. An endovascular coil is placed in the draining vein as a surgical resection marker. The AVM was resected successfully without any complications.

Prediction models for recurrence in patients with small bowel bleeding

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) has traditionally been defined as gastrointestinal bleeding whose source remains unidentified after bidirectional endoscopy. OGIB can present as overt bleeding or occult bleeding, and small bowel lesions are the most common causes. The small bowel can be evaluated using capsule endoscopy, device-assisted enteroscopy, computed tomography enterography, or magnetic resonance enterography. Once the cause of small-bowel bleeding is identified and targeted therapeutic intervention is completed, the patient can be managed with routine visits. However, diagnostic tests may produce negative results, and some patients with small bowel bleeding, regardless of diagnostic findings, may experience rebleeding. Predicting those at risk of rebleeding can help clinicians form individualized surveillance plans. Several studies have identified different factors associated with rebleeding, and a limited number of studies have attempted to create prediction models for recurrence. This article describes prediction models developed so far for identifying patients with OGIB who are at greater risk of rebleeding. These models may aid clinicians in forming tailored patient management and surveillance.

A novel capsule endoscopy for upper and mid-GI tract: the UMGI capsule

BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS

Complete and consecutive observation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract continues to present challenges for current endoscopy systems. We developed a novel upper and mid gastrointestinal (UMGI) capsule endoscopy using the modified detachable string magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (DS-MCE) and inspection method and aimed to assess the clinical application.

METHODS

Patients were recruited to undergo UMGI capsule endoscopy followed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. All capsule procedures in the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract were conducted under the control of magnet and string. The main outcome was technical success, and the secondary outcomes included visualization of the UMGI tract, examination time, diagnostic yield, compliance, and safety evaluation.

RESULTS

Thirty patients were enrolled and all UMGI capsule procedures realized repeated observation of the esophagus and duodenum with detection rates of 100.0%, 80.0%, and 86.7% of Z-line, duodenal papilla, and reverse side of pylorus, respectively. String detachment was succeeded in 29 patients (96.7%) and the complete examination rate of UMGI tract was 95.45% (21/22). All UMGI capsule procedures were well tolerated with low discomfort score, and had a good diagnostic yield with per-lesion sensitivity of 96.2% in UGI diseases. No adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

This new capsule endoscopy system provides an alternative screening modality for the UMGI tract, and might be indicated in cases of suspected upper and small bowel GI bleeding. Trial registration DS-MCE-UGI and SB, NCT04329468. Registered 27 March 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=&term=NCT04329468 .

Making Hematochezia of Unknown Origin Known: A Retrospective Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Hematochezia is observed frequently in daily practice. However, natural hemostasis often prevents identification of the bleeding source during observations. This study was conducted to clarify risk factors related to rebleeding in hematochezia patients without an identified cause of bleeding.

METHODS

We analyzed patients who were admitted to Dokkyo Medical University Hospital during April 1, 2009, through March 31, 2015, with the chief complaint of hematochezia. Main outcome measures included the rebleeding rate and the period until rebleeding in hematochezia patients without an identified bleeding source.

RESULTS

We selected 159 patients for analyses. Rebleeding was observed in 46 (28.9%) of 159 patients. The median period until first rebleeding was 166 days (2-3,046 days). Univariate analysis indicated that risk factors for rebleeding were male gender (p = 0.029), higher age (p = 0.023), antithrombotic medicines (p = 0.047), lower hemoglobin on admission (p = 0.024), and the presence of diverticula (p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis indicated the presence of diverticula (p = 0.023) and male gender (p = 0.043) as rebleeding risk factors.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

In patients with hematochezia of unknown origin, risk factors for rebleeding indicated in this study, especially the presence of diverticula and male gender, should be given particular attention by physicians.

[Expert consensus on clinical application management of enteroscopy in children]

Small bowel disease is one of the difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system diseases, and limited examination techniques seriously restrict the diagnosis and treatment level of digestive tract diseases in children. With the wide clinical application of enteroscopy in pediatrics and the optimization of enteroscopy equipment and accessories, enteroscopy technique provides a new method for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric digestive tract diseases, but there are still many issues and challenges in the standardization of clinical operation and endoscopic treatment. In order to standardize the diagnosis and treatment techniques for enteroscopy in children and improve the diagnosis and treatment level of small bowel disease, the Subspecialty Group of Gastroenterology, the Society of Pediatrics, Chinese Medical Association organized experts to fully discuss and formulate the expert consensus on the clinical application management of enteroscopy in children, with reference to the latest advances in the application of enteroscopy in children.

Bleeding, Hemorrhagic Shock, and the Global Blood Supply

Hemorrhage is responsible for at least 40% of deaths after trauma and 27% of maternal deaths worldwide. Patients with hemorrhagic shock require attentive critical care and transfusion of blood products. Access to a safe and affordable blood supply is critical to providing safe surgical care. Traumatic injury, obstetric hemorrhage, and upper gastrointestinal bleed are the main causes of severe bleeding requiring transfusion. This article discusses the presentation and management of these causes across the world and provides a brief overview of the current challenges in maintaining a global blood supply.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a comprehensive radiological review

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) originating from the interstitial cells of Cajal in the muscularis propria are the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. Multiple modalities, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, ultrasonography, digital subtraction angiography, and endoscopy, have been performed to evaluate GISTs. CT is most frequently used for diagnosis, staging, surveillance, and response monitoring during molecularly targeted therapy in clinical practice. The diagnosis of GISTs is sometimes challenging because of the diverse imaging findings, such as anatomical location (esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small bowel, colorectum, appendix, and peritoneum), growth pattern, and enhancement pattern as well as the presence of necrosis, calcification, ulceration, early venous return, and metastasis. Imaging findings of GISTs treated with antineoplastic agents are quite different from those of other neoplasms (e.g. adenocarcinomas) because only subtle changes in size are seen even in responsive lesions. Furthermore, the recurrence pattern of GISTs is different from that of other neoplasms. This review discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each imaging modality, describes imaging findings obtained before and after treatment, presents a few cases of complicated GISTs, and discusses recent investigations performed using CT and MRI to predict histological risk grade, gene mutations, and patient outcomes.

A Cohort Study to Compare Effects between Ulcer- and Nonulcer-Related Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Objective

The aim of this study was to better understand the characteristics and etiology of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (ANVUGIB) in recent years in this region and to provide evidence-based medical evidence.

Methods

100 patients with acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (ANVUGIB) who met the clinical diagnostic criteria of ANVUGIB admitted to Suzhou First People's Hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were analyzed, as well as the age difference and change rule. According to age, 100 patients were divided into young (18-39 years), middle-aged (40-59 years), and elderly (60 years and above), and the differences in the three groups were compared. The etiology was confirmed by endoscopic examination and was recorded one by one in a well-designed ANVUGIB case data registration form. Statistical software SPSS 23.0 was used for analysis.

Results

Gastric ulcer was the main cause in the elderly group (50.0%), duodenal ulcer was the main cause in the middle and young groups, and gastrointestinal cancer (7.1%) and marginal ulcer (2.3%) in the elderly group were higher than those in the young group. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (52.3%) were the main inducement in the elderly group, which was significantly higher than in the middle-aged group (13.1%) and the young group (5%) (P < 0.01). Drinking, fatigue, and emotional excitement led to a higher proportion in the middle-aged group and the young group, in comparison to the elderly group (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Peptic ulcer is the most common cause of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding, followed by acute gastric mucosal lesions and upper digestive system tumors, compared with nonulcer.

Diagnostic and therapeutic yields of early capsule endoscopy and device-assisted enteroscopy in the setting of overt GI bleeding: a systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Small-bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) and device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE) are essential in obscure GI bleeding (OGIB) management. However, the best timing for such procedures remains unknown. This meta-analysis aimed to compare, for the first time, diagnostic and therapeutic yields, detection of active bleeding and vascular lesions, recurrent bleeding, and mortality of "early" versus "nonearly" SBCE and DAE.

METHODS

MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to identify studies comparing early versus nonearly SBCE and DAE. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed; reporting quality was assessed.

RESULTS

From 1974 records, 39 were included (4825 patients). Time intervals for the early approach varied, within 14 days in SBCE and 72 hours in DAE. The pooled diagnostic and therapeutic yields of early DAE were superior to those of SBCE (7.97% and 20.89%, respectively; P < .05). The odds for active bleeding (odds ratio [OR], 5.09; I² = 53%), positive diagnosis (OR, 3.99; I² = 45%), and therapeutic intervention (OR, 3.86; I² = 67%) were higher in the early group for SBCE and DAE (P < .01). Subgroup effects in diagnostic yield were only identified for the early group sample size. Our study failed to identify differences when studies were classified according to time intervals for early DAE (I² < 5%), but the analysis was limited because of a lack of data availability. Lower recurrent bleeding in early SBCE and DAE was observed (OR, .40; P < .01; I² = 0%).

CONCLUSIONS

The role of small-bowel studies in the early evaluation of OGIB is unquestionable, impacting diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and prognosis. Comparative studies are still needed to identify optimal timing.

Acute Upper Non-variceal and Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common surgical emergency requiring hospital admission and associated with high morbidity and mortality. Appropriate decision-making is essential to make a prompt diagnosis, accurate risk assessment, and proper resuscitation of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Despite multiple randomized trials and meta-analyses, there is still controversy on various management issues like appropriate risk stratification, the timing of endoscopy, choosing an appropriate endoscopic, and radiological intervention in these groups of patients. As the usage of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiplatelet, and antithrombotic agents is common in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, the physician is challenged with proper management of these drugs. The present review summarizes the current strategies for risk stratification, localization of bleeding source, endoscopic and radiological intervention in patients with acute nonvariceal upper GI, middle GI, and lower GI bleeding.

Single-centre empirical analysis of double-balloon enteroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases: A retrospective study of 466 cases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases (SBDs) has always been a challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases.

METHOD

The clinical data of 466 patients who underwent double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in the Endoscope Center of Gastroenterology Department of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province from Jan. 2015 to Dec. 2020 were analysed retrospectively. The factors included age, sex, indications, endoscopic treatment results, pathological results, discharge diagnosis and so on.

RESULTS

A total of 370 patients underwent 466 double-balloon enteroscopies, among whom 274 underwent one examination and 96 received two-way examinations (oral and transanal approaches). Abnormalities were detected in 299 cases, with a detection rate of 80.81% (299/370). The common indications were occult gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) (30.8%, 114/370) and abdominal pain (28.3%, 105/370). The diagnosis rates were 64.9% and 77.1%, respectively. The common positive findings included nonspecific inflammation/erosion (60 cases), ulcers (34 cases), diverticulum (32 cases), polyps (26 cases) and Crohn's disease (CD) (24 cases). The common tumours were lymphoma(12 cases), adenocarcinoma(11 cases) and stromal tumour(8 cases). Lymphoma was mostly located in the ileum, while stromal tumours and adenocarcinoma were mostly located in the duodenum and jejunum. The main endoscopic intervention measures were haemostasis and polypectomy, including haemostatic clip, argon plasma coagulation (APC), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic trap resection, endoscopic foreign body extraction and other operations, without serious complications.

CONCLUSION

DBE has a high success rate in the diagnosis and treatment of some SBDs, and it is a safe and effective management method.

The Evaluation of Transmural Healing by Low-dose Computed Tomography Enterography in Patients with Crohn's Disease

Objective Transmural healing (TH) has been attracting attention as a new therapeutic target for Crohn's disease, but there are few clinical data on TH in Japan. We introduced low-dose computed tomography enterography (CTE) as a monitoring method for Crohn's disease and retrospectively investigated the accuracy of evaluating TH by CTE. Methods Among Crohn's disease patients who underwent low-dose CTE at our hospital from January 2009 to March 2021, 122 patients who underwent colonoscopy or balloon endoscopy within 2 weeks were included. Results of radiological and endoscopic examinations were reviewed independently by radiologists and gastrointestinal endoscopists, respectively. The concordance rate of the diagnosis between CTE and endoscopy was evaluated. Results Twenty-six patients (21.3%) achieved TH, and the kappa index was 0.743. On comparing the TH and non-TH groups, the Crohn's disease activity index (p=0.02), endoscopic healing rate (p<0.001), serum albumin (p=0.043), and serum C-reactive protein level (p=0.018) showed significant differences. Among the 122 patients, 69 (56.5%) showed concordance between the diagnosis of CTE and endoscopy, and 22 (18.0%) achieved both TH and endoscopic healing. Conclusion This study provides real-world data on Crohn's disease evaluated with low-dose CTE in Japan. The TH criterion used in this study has a high kappa coefficient and can be used reproducibly in many institutions.

Small Bowel Malignancies in Patients Undergoing Capsule Endoscopy for Iron Deficiency Anemia

Small bowel malignancies are rare and usually asymptomatic or symptoms are nonspecific. Therefore, small bowel tumors are difficult to diagnose. In patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) who have negative bidirectional endoscopy results, the small bowel may be considered the source of bleeding. However, in asymptomatic IDA patients with negative bidirectional endoscopy results, evidence supporting the routine use of capsule endoscopy (CE) is insufficient. CE can be considered in selected patients with recurrent or persistent IDA. The frequency of small bowel malignancies is low in patients undergoing CE for IDA, but the usefulness of CE for the diagnosis of small bowel malignancies in younger age groups with IDA has been reported. For patients with risk factors for small bowel malignancy, investigation of the small bowel should be considered. Efforts should be made to prevent adverse events, such as capsule retention or capsule aspiration, through meticulous history taking and endoscopic capsule delivery as necessary.

Factors Affecting Route Selection of Balloon-Assisted Enteroscopy in Patients with Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A KASID Multicenter Study

Balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) is an important diagnostic modality for ongoing obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). However, it is difficult to determine the optimal insertion route. We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients with OGIB contained in a multicenter enteroscopy database of 1108 balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) procedures (875 patients) to find out factors affecting BAE route selection in patients with OGIB. A total of 603 BAE procedures in 512 patients were investigated: there were 392 (65.0%) bidirectional and 211 (35.0%) unidirectional procedures. Overt OGIB was more frequent in the latter group (p = 0.024). Computed tomography (CT) was more frequently performed in the unidirectional group (p < 0.001). Capsule endoscopy and a small bowel barium study were performed more frequently in the bidirectional group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.039, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that occult OGIB, capsule endoscopy and a small bowel barium study were independently associated with use of the bidirectional approach (p = 0.011, p = 0.013 and p = 0.046, respectively). Conversely, CT was associated with use of the unidirectional approach (p < 0.001). Conclusion: CT can aid the selection of an optimal insertion route in OGIB patients. However, capsule endoscopy and small bowel barium study are unhelpful.

Massive hemobilia caused by rupture of gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm, a delayed complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a case report

BACKGROUND

Hemobilia is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding that originates from the biliary tract. It is infrequently considered in diagnosis, especially in the absence of abdominal trauma or history of hepatopancreatobiliary procedure, such as cholecystectomy, which can cause arterial pseudoaneurysm. Prompt diagnosis is crucial because its management strategy is distinct from other types of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Here, we present a case of massive hemobilia caused by the rupture of a gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm in a patient with a history of laparoscopic cholecystectomy 3 years prior to presentation.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 44-year-old Indonesian female presented to the emergency department with complaint of hematemesis and melena accompanied by abdominal pain and icterus. History of an abdominal trauma was denied. However, she reported having undergone a laparoscopic cholecystectomy 3 years prior to presentation. On physical examination, we found anemic conjunctiva and icteric sclera. Nonvariceal bleeding was suspected, but esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a blood clot at the ampulla of Vater. Angiography showed contrast extravasation from a gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm. The patient underwent pseudoaneurysm ligation and excision surgery to stop the bleeding. After surgery, the patient's vital signs were stable, and there was no sign of rebleeding.

CONCLUSION

Gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The prolonged time interval, as compared with other postcholecystectomy hemobilia cases, resulted in hemobilia not being considered as an etiology of the gastrointestinal bleeding at presentation. Hemobilia should be considered as a possible etiology of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with history of cholecystectomy, regardless of the time interval between the invasive procedure and onset of bleeding.

Combined Use of Computed Tomography Enterography/Enteroclysis and Capsule Endoscopy Improves the Accuracy of Diagnosis of Small Bowel Bleeding

Objective CT enterography/enteroclysis (CTE) is listed in the clinical practice guidelines as a method for diagnosing small bowel bleeding, as is capsule endoscopy (CE), but there are no real-world data yet available on CTE in Japan. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic ability of CTE and long-term prognosis after CTE in Japan. Patients We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients suspected of having small bowel bleeding who underwent both CTE and CE within 30 days between April 2008 and March 2019. The number of patients free from rebleeding for up to 24 months was thus determined. Results Seventy-one patients were extracted from the database. The 43 patients (60.6%) with a definite and suspicious source of bleeding in the small bowel were detected by CTE. When the 31 patients with a definite source of bleeding in the small bowel were analyzed, the sensitivity of CTE was 19/31 (61.3%) and that of CE was 24/31 (77.4%), thus indicating no significant difference (p=0.332). However, the sensitivity when CTE and CE were used in combination was 30/31 (96.8%), which was significantly higher than that of CE alone (p=0.0412). No rebleeding was observed in the CTE and CE negative group (p=0.0965). Conclusion The combined use of CTE and CE increased the detection rate of small bowel bleeding. Therefore, in patients with suspected tumor/polyp lesions, not only CE, but also CTE should be performed. This study provides the first real-world data on the diagnostic accuracy of CTE for small bowel bleeding in Japan.

Causes and Clinical Characteristics of Small Bowel Bleeding in Northern Vietnam

AIM

Causes, clinical features, and diagnostic approaches for small bowel (SB) bleeding were analyzed to derive recommendations in dealing with this clinical condition.

METHODS

We included 54 patients undergoing surgical treatment for SB bleeding, from January 2009 to December 2019. Detailed clinical data, diagnosis procedures, and causes of bleeding were collected.

RESULTS

Among 54 cases with SB bleeding, the most common causes were tumors (64.8%), followed by angiopathy (14.8%), ulcers (9.3%), diverticula (5.6%), tuberculosis (3.7%), and enteritis (1.9%). Most tumors (32/35 cases, 91.4%) and vascular lesions (8/8 cases, 100%) were located in the jejunum. The incidence of tumors was higher in the older (30/41 cases, 73.1%) than that in patients younger than 40 years of age (5/13 cases, 38.5%, P < 0.01). Common initial findings were melena (68.5%) and hematochezia (31.5%). The overall diagnostic yield of computed tomographic enterography (CTE) was 57.4% (31/54 cases), with the figures for tumors, vascular lesions, and inflammatory lesions being 71.4% (25/35 cases), 62.5% (5/8 cases), and 12.5% (1/8 cases), respectively. Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) definitively identified SB bleeding sources in 16/22 (72.7%) patients.

CONCLUSION

Tumors, angiopathy, ulcers, and diverticula were the most common causes of SB bleeding in Northern Vietnamese population. CTE has a high detection rate for tumors in patients with SB bleeding. CTE as a triage tool may identify patients before double-balloon enteroscopy because of the high prevalence of SB tumors.

Roles of Capsule Endoscopy and Balloon-Assisted Enteroscopy in the Optimal Management of Small Bowel Bleeding

The small bowel had long been considered a dark unapproachable tunnel until the invention of capsule endoscopy and doubleballoon enteroscopy in the 21st century, which revolutionized the diagnosis and management of small bowel diseases, including bleeding. Various imaging modalities such as computed tomographic enterography, angiography, capsule endoscopy, and balloonassisted enteroscopy play vital roles in the diagnosis and management of small bowel bleeding. The choice of modality to use and timing of application differ according to the availability of the modalities, patient’s history, and physician’s experience. Small bowel bleeding is managed using different strategies as exemplified by medical treatment, interventional radiology, endoscopic therapy, or surgical intervention. Balloon-assisted enteroscopy enables endoscopic interventions to control small bowel bleeding, including electrocautery, argon plasma coagulation, clip application, and tattooing as a prelude to surgery. In this article, we clarify the recent approaches to the optimal diagnosis and management of patients with small bowel bleeding.

99mTc-RBC SPECT/CT for Duodenal Bleeding Point Detection

This is a case of a 63-year-old man who presented with acute melena and low hemoglobin. Upper and lower gastrointestinal evaluations failed to localize the bleeding focus. Tc-RBC planar scintigraphy identified 2 sites of suspected bleeding in the lower abdomen area. Subsequent SPECT/CT was performed and identified the precise main focus of active bleeding, the second and third parts of the duodenum, and also described the blood accumulation in the jejunum. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was immediately performed, and results confirmed spurting blood from the small vessel with multiple ulcers in the second part of the duodenum.