Massive bleeding from rectal varices.
An elderly female who experienced a life-threatening bleed from an isolated rectal varix is presented. She failed endoscopic injection sclerotherapy but responded to surgical ligation. The literature concerning well-documented bleeding from eight cases of rectal varices is reviewed. Nomenclature, diagnosis, and therapy are emphasized.
Department of Internal Medicine, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
B E
BE
Herman
S
S
Baum
J
J
Denobile
R J
RJ
Volpe
D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000098:blood supply*; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy