Gastrointestinal bleeding and protein-losing enteropathy after the fontan operation.
Gastrointestinal bleeding has not been reported in patients with protein-losing enteropathy. The investigators describe 3 patients with protein-losing enteropathy and gastrointestinal bleeding after Fontan operations. Bleeding occurred at the onset of protein-losing enteropathy, was macroscopic, led to anemia, and required blood transfusion in all patients. Invasive testing failed to demonstrate gastrointestinal pathology as a source of bleeding. In conclusion, unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding may be part of the clinical spectrum of protein-losing enteropathy.
Vyas
Himeshkumar
H
Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine/Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Driscoll
David J
DJ
Cetta
Frank
F
Loftus
Conor G
CG
Connolly
Heidi M
HM
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage; D011379:Prognosis; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000209:etiology*