Massive pan-gastrointestinal bleeding following cocaine use.
BACKGROUND
An 18-year-old adolescent with cystic fibrosis developed massive gastrointestinal bleeding.


METHODS
History, physical examination, upper and lower endoscopy and wireless capsule endoscopy were performed.


RESULTS
Upper and lower endoscopy did not reveal cause of persistent bleeding. Wireless capsule endoscopy revealed pan-gastrointestinal ischemic injury. Further discussion with the patient revealed recent cocaine ingestion.


CONCLUSIONS
Most reported cases of gut injury following cocaine abuse describe juxtapyloric and colonic injury; this case demonstrates that ischemic gut injury after cocaine use can be extensive and may be the reason for the associated high mortality.
Gibbons
Troy Emanuel
TE
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202, USA. gibbonstroye@uams.edu
Sayed
Kadria
K
Fuchs
George Joseph
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002214:Capsules; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007579:Jejunal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D002214:Capsules; D016578:Crack Cocaine