Open AccessEndoscopic Laser Therapy for Gastrointestinal Bleeding from Congenital Vascular Lesions
Author(s) -
Peter A. Noronha,
Michael H. Leist
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/00005176-198805000-00010
Subject(s) - medicine , gastrointestinal bleeding , endoscopy , surgery , upper gastrointestinal bleeding , vascular disease , endoscopic treatment , laser therapy , severe bleeding , vascular malformation , blood transfusion , radiology , laser , physics , optics
Endoscopic laser therapy may be useful in controlling upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to vascular abnormalities. This report presents the case of an 11-year-old boy with an unusual vasculocutaneous disorder complicated by chronic recurrent bleeding that necessitated frequent blood transfusions. Of a number of investigative tests, only endoscopy was diagnostic in determining that the bleeding was secondary to multiple gastric vascular lesions. Moreover, laser photocoagulation of the identified lesions resulted in a dramatic decrease in both transfusion requirements and hospitalization.