title: Heparin as a pharmacologic intervention to induce positive scintiscan in occult gastrointestinal bleeding.
abstract: The value of using heparin as a pharmacologic intervention to induce a positive scintiscan was studied in a patient with chronic occult gastrointestinal bleeding. When all standard diagnostic tests (upper and lower gastrointestinal series, upper and lower endoscopy, and conventional noninterventional Tc-99m RBC imaging) fail to detect and localize gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient who has definite clinical evidence (guaiac positive stool and dropping hemoglobin, hematocrit) of chronic occult gastrointestinal oozing, heparin may be used (with proper precaution) as a last resort to aid in the scintigraphic detection and localization of chronic occult gastrointestinal bleeding.
mesh_terms: D004912:Erythrocytes; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013667:Technetium
chemical_list: D013667:Technetium; D006493:Heparin