BACKGROUND: Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is usually self-limiting in about 80% of cases; however, surgical treatment may be required in selected cases. Preoperative precise identification of the bleeding source is crucial for a successful outcome. OBJECTIVE: To determine the most frequent diagnoses, as well as short and long-term results in a series of patients who underwent a surgical procedure for lower gastrointestinal bleeding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 39 patients operated upon for lower gastrointestinal bleeding from 1979 through 1997 in a referral center. Demographic data, history, physical examination, laboratory tests, resuscitative measures, preoperative work-up for identification of bleeding source, definitive cause of bleeding, surgical procedure, operative morbidity and mortality, as well as long-term status and recurrence of bleeding were recorded. RESULTS: There were 54% women and 46% men. Mean age was 56 years (range, 15-92). Most patients presented hematochezia (69%). Colonoscopy was the most used diagnostic procedure (69%). The bleeding source was located in 90% of patients. Diverticular disease was the most frequent cause of bleeding. A segmental bowel resection was the treatment in 97% of cases. Morbidity was 23% with 18% of mortality. Recurrence occurred in 9% of survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Morbidity and mortality were high. Patients who require a surgical operation should be carefully selected and evaluated with a complete work-up to determine the site and cause of bleeding.
BACKGROUND: Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is usually self-limiting in about 80% of cases; however, surgical treatment may be required in selected cases. Preoperative precise identification of the bleeding source is crucial for a successful outcome. OBJECTIVE: To determine the most frequent diagnoses, as well as short and long-term results in a series of patients who underwent a surgical procedure for lower gastrointestinal bleeding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 39 patients operated upon for lower gastrointestinal bleeding from 1979 through 1997 in a referral center. Demographic data, history, physical examination, laboratory tests, resuscitative measures, preoperative work-up for identification of bleeding source, definitive cause of bleeding, surgical procedure, operative morbidity and mortality, as well as long-term status and recurrence of bleeding were recorded. RESULTS: There were 54% women and 46% men. Mean age was 56 years (range, 15-92). Most patients presented hematochezia (69%). Colonoscopy was the most used diagnostic procedure (69%). The bleeding source was located in 90% of patients. Diverticular disease was the most frequent cause of bleeding. A segmental bowel resection was the treatment in 97% of cases. Morbidity was 23% with 18% of mortality. Recurrence occurred in 9% of survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Morbidity and mortality were high. Patients who require a surgical operation should be carefully selected and evaluated with a complete work-up to determine the site and cause of bleeding.
Authors: Gernot Köhler; Oliver Owen Koch; Stavros A Antoniou; Franz Mayer; Michael Lechner; Leo Pallwein-Prettner; Klaus Emmanuel Journal: World J Surg Date: 2014-09 Impact factor: 3.352