|
|
Vascular ectasias
|
|
- It is theorized that veins in the
colon become damaged over time. This causes capillaries to
dilate (capillaries are blood vessels that connect the
artery side of the circulatory system to the venous side).
These dilated capillaries no longer function properly,
causing the body to compensate by forming direct connections
between the arterial and venous sides-called angiodysplastic
lesions. These abnormal blood vessel connections have a
tendency to bleed, especially in the
elderly.
|
|
- Usually occurs after age 70 but can
be seen after age 50
- Usually painless
- Bleeding may be in tiny amounts and
lead to fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath secondary
to anemia.
- Bright red blood passed from rectum
(bleeding may be massive)
- Tarry black stool (melena)
- Vomiting blood or coffee-ground
material
|
|
- Damaged veins as above
- Congenital (born with these abnormal
vessel connections)
- Hereditary hemorrhagic
telangiectasia (a rare genetic disease)
- Autoimmune diseases such as Scleroderma
|
|
- Rectal examination positive for
blood
- Complete blood count
may show anemia
- Colonoscopy (scope
passed from rectum to colon)
- Endoscopy (scope passed from throat
into stomach)
- Special push enteroscope (scope to
view small intestines)
- Nuclear red blood cell
scan
|
|
- If slow bleeding over time:
- Iron supplementation
- Specific hormone therapy (estrogen-progesterone)
- Rapid or massive bleeding:
- Cautery (heater probe) or laser
treatment
- Angiography (dye injected and X-Rays taken) to
localize bleeding area. Then vasopressin (constricts
blood vessel) is injected into the area to stop bleeding,
or the area is embolized (an artificial blockage of the
angiodysplastic lesion is made).
- Right hemicolectomy (partial
removal of colon) if bleeding is uncontrollable,
recurrent, and in right colon
- Surgical sewing in other areas of uncontrollable or
recurrent
bleeding
|
| | |
If you want your friend to read or know about this article, Click here
|
|
|