title: Use of heparin in the investigation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the administration of heparin improves the predictive value of angiography in the investigation of obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  18 patients with a history of chronic GI bleeding were investigated with angiography. For 6 patients, the cause of GI bleeding was established with angiography; the 12 patients who had negative results were given heparin for 24 h and were reassessed with angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After heparin administration, the source of GI bleeding was determined with angiography for 6 of the remaining 12 patients. Thus, heparinization increased diagnostic yield from 33% (6 of 18) to 67% (12 of 18). No significant complications, such as uncontrolled GI bleeding, occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heparinization improves the diagnostic yield of angiography when obscure GI bleeding is being investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, McMaster University Medical Centre, 1200 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5. mernaghj@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mernagh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Donovan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Somers
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sridhar
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006493:Heparin
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin