Massive gastrointestinal bleeding from jejunal varices

Abstract

We report a patient with massive gastrointestinal bleeding from jejunal varices, confirmed by emergency laparotomy. A 54-year-old woman was admitted to Chonnam National University Hospital with a 5-day history of melena with hematochezia. Fifteen years previously, she had undergone cholecystectomy for gallstone. Seven years previously, she had undergone an operation because of possible common bile duct stone. The details of this operation were not known. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed no varices in the esophagus, stomach, and proximal duodenum. Colonoscopy demonstrated black-colored blood clots throughout the colon. A technetium-99m-labeled red blood cell (RBC) scan showed active proximal small bowel bleeding. Abdominal aortic angiography revealed mesenteric varices in the upper abdomen, but no active bleeding source was recognized. Because of the patient's continued massive gastrointestinal bleeding despite medical therapy, emergency laparotomy was performed. We found evidence of micronodular cirrhosis of the liver and an apparent Roux-en-Y anastomosis. There were numerous collateral variceal vessels in the jejunal limb with the liver and abdominal wall. Segmental resection of the involved jejunum and end-to-end anastomosis were perdilated formed. Histologic examination revealed submucosal veins with mucosal erosion.