Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is common and occurs often in elderly patients. In rare cases it is associated with hemorrhagic shock. A large number of such bleedings, which are often caused by colon diverticula, subside spontaneously. Alternatively they can be treated by endoscopic procedures successfully. Given the aging population of our society, the rising incidence of lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding and new anticoagulant therapies, some of the bleedings tend to be severe. Colonoscopy is the established standard procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. However, a small number of patients experience re-bleeding or shock; their bleeding does not resolve spontaneously and cannot be treated successfully by endoscopic procedures. In such patients, interventional radiology is very useful for the detection of bleeding and the achievement of hemostasis. Against this background we performed a literature search using PubMed to identify all relevant studies focused on the endoscopic and radiological management of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and present recent conclusions on the subject.
BACKGROUND The large majority of gastrointestinal bleedings subside on their own or after endoscopic treatment. However, a small number of these may pose a challenge in terms of therapy because the patients develop hemodynamic instability, and endoscopy does not achieve adequate hemostasis. Interventional radiology supplemented with catheter angiography (CA) and transarterial embolization have gained importance in recent times. AIM To evaluate clinical predictors for angiography in patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). METHODS We compared two groups of patients in a retrospective analysis. One group had been treated for more than 10 years with CA for LGIB ( n = 41). The control group had undergone non-endoscopic or endoscopic treatment for two years and been registered in a bleeding registry ( n = 92). The differences between the two groups were analyzed using decision trees with the goal of defining clear rules for optimal treatment. RESULTS Patients in the CA group had a higher shock index, a higher Glasgow-Blatchford bleeding score (GBS), lower serum hemoglobin levels, and more rarely achieved hemostasis in primary endoscopy. These patients needed more transfusions, had longer hospital stays, and had to undergo subsequent surgery more frequently ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Endoscopic hemostasis proved to be the crucial difference between the two patient groups. Primary endoscopic hemostasis, along with GBS and the number of transfusions, would permit a stratification of risks. After prospective confirmation of the present findings, the use of decision trees would permit the identification of patients at risk for subsequent diagnosis and treatment based on interventional radiology.
Summary:Background: Surgical revascularization for chronic critical limb ischaemia in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) still remains controversial. Generally, besides cessation of smoking, conservative treatment supported by intravenous administration of vasoactive agents is regarded as the treatment of choice, in combination with local wound therapy or minor amputation. Patients and methods: In four male patients (42-47 years) surgical revascularization was chosen as therapy for established gangrene or non-healing ulceration after unsuccessful conservative treatment and cessation of smoking. Angiography was able to identify a suitable distal arterial segment for the bypass which was revascularized by means of an autologous vein graft. Grafts were followed with repetitive duplex ultrasound. Revision of the bypass graft was initiated if indicated by pathological duplex fi ndings. Results: In all cases a bypass could be constructed with either the ipsilateral greater saphenous vein or arm veins. A distal origin confi guration was possible in three cases with popliteo-pedal or cruro-pedal bypasses. In the fourth case the distal superfi cial femoral artery was used for infl ow. Two early graft thromboses underwent successful revision. During follow-up, duplex ultrasound identifi ed graft stenoses in three bypasses which were successfully treated with endovascular techniques. All grafts are patent with complete resolution of ischaemic symptoms after 46, 42, 32, and 29 months. The patients remained non-smokers and returned to a professional life. Conclusions: Surgical therapy with distal vein bypass for persistent ischaemic symptoms after defi nitive cessation of smoking seems feasible in selected cases with TAO and a suitable distal artery. Close follow-ups of the patients with duplex ultrasound are necessary to identify developing vein graft stenoses. Angioplasty seems to be an important part of the long-term therapeutic concept.Keywords: Thromboangiitis obliterans, bypass, limb salvage, human, vascular patency ease frequently involves the small distal arteries of the calf and the foot with complete obliteration of the vessel lumen and absence of a suitable distal artery for bypass. The angiographic pattern of TAO is characterized by occlusions of the tibial and pedal arteries and the presence of typical corkscrew collaterals with normal proximal arteries [2,3]. Surgical revascularization with autologous vein bypass is rarely regarded as feasible due to the absence of healthy distal arterial segments or because of the small calibre of patent arteries and recent advances in conservative treatment. Superfi cial veins may become aff ected by the disease in form of phlebitis migrans with consecutive infl ammatory changes [4]. Hence previous infl ammation of the superfi cial veins often limits their availability as bypass grafts. However surgical vein bypass was recommended by Asian groups and a few European groups as an eff ective therapy for critical ischaemia [5][6][7][8][9]. The results of a contemporar...
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