title: Case of obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding after pediatric liver transplantation explained by endoscopic ultrasound.
abstract: Portal hypertension, which is a common finding in children awaiting liver transplantation, is also found after transplantation. It's reported the case of a 6-year-old girl, transplanted for biliary atresia, who had a severe obscure-overt bleeding presenting with melena. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed several duodenal small, bulging lesions, with some red signs. Near the lesions, a depressed area of 2 cm, covered with mixed hyperemic and white mucosa, was observed. To better evaluate these lesions, we performed an endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) that showed multiple, round hypoechoic areas 0.5-5 mm in diameter, compatible with duodenal varices, and several periduodenal anechoic lesions compatible with collaterals. A consecutive computed tomography scan showed a stenosis of the portal vein anastomosis confirmed with a transhepatic portography, which was successfully treated with balloon angioplasty. No further episodes of bleeding were observed during the follow-up. This case report suggests that EUS is safe and feasible in young children when using echoendoscopes designed for use in adults. However further studies are needed to validate the employment of this technique in the management and follow-up of pediatric portal hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Gabriele Curcio, Marta Di Pisa, Luca Barresi, Ilaria Tarantino, Antonino Granata, Mario Traina, Department of Gastroenterology, Liver Transplantation Unit, IsMeTT, 90100 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Curcio
authors.forename: Marta Di
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pisa
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miraglia
authors.forename: Pieralba
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barresi
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tarantino
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spada
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Traina
keywords: Endoscopic ultrasound; Gastrointestinal; Liver transplantation; Obscure bleeding; Pediatric