Massive colonic haemorrhage from a solitary caecal varix.
A 51 year old lady with chronic active hepatitis presented with massive lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Angiography demonstrated a solitary varix in the caecum which was found at laparotomy to be entering the bowel wall at the site of adhesion from a previous appendicectomy. The portal pressure was found to be raised. A right hemicolectomy stopped the blood loss, but she subsequently died of liver failure. Solitary colonic varices associated with adhesions are extremely rare and their optimal management has not been established.
Shaper
K R
KR
Department of Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London.
Jarmulowicz
M
M
Dick
R
R
Cuthbert
N D
ND
Davidson
B R
BR
D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002432:Cecum / Q000098:blood supply*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000150:complications*