A galling disease? Dieulafoy's lesion of the gallbladder

Fatal exulceratio simplex (dieulafoy lesion) - a case report and review

A 64-year-old man involved in a low-speed vehicle crash was found at autopsy to have altered blood extending from his stomach to his rectum. Within the stomach a small arterial vessel opened onto the mucosa of the posterior wall of the antrum adjacent to the pylorus with no adjacent mucosal ulceration or malignancy. Histologic sections showed the typical appearances of a Dieulafoy lesion with a tortuous small arteriole within the submucosa extending to the gastric lumen with an overlying cap of recently formed clot. There were no injuries attributable to the vehicle collision. Death was due to a bleeding Dieulafoy lesion of the stomach with a background of cardiomegaly. Dieulafoy lesion of the stomach is a rare disorder accounting for only 1-2% of cases of acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Although its pathogenesis is poorly understood it is capable of producing life-threatening bleeding, as in the present case. The small size of the lesion may make it difficult to identify at the time of autopsy.

Successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder hemorrhage from a Dieulafoy lesion in a patient on hemodialysis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Patients on long-term dialysis are prone to hemorrhagic complications, particularly uremic bleeding, but gallbladder hemorrhage is rare, even in patients on dialysis. There have been occasional reports of a Dieulafoy lesion being a cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, but its occurrence within the gallbladder is quite rare. This report describes a case of gallbladder hemorrhage from a Dieulafoy lesion in a patient on hemodialysis that was diagnosed early and successfully treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 68-year-old woman on long-term hemodialysis with end-stage renal failure who presented with epigastralgia and back pain. There was no history of trauma or oral administration of antiplatelet or anticoagulant agents. There were no signs of an inflammatory reaction or hyperbilirubinemia. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a slightly hyperdense area in the distended gallbladder and extravasation within the gallbladder lumen but no gallstones. A severe atherosclerotic lesion was also found. She was diagnosed to have gallbladder hemorrhage and emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. Although the postoperative course was complicated by drug fever, she was discharged on postoperative day 10 in a satisfactory condition. Histology revealed hemorrhagic ulceration with an exposed blood vessel accompanied by abnormal arteries in the submucosa. Arteriosclerosis with eccentric intimal hyperplasia in a small-sized artery was also seen. The diagnosis was gallbladder hemorrhage from a Dieulafoy lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

A Dieulafoy lesion should be kept in mind as a cause of gallbladder hemorrhage in a patient with severe arteriosclerosis and a bleeding diathesis, particularly if on dialysis, and treated as early as possible.

Dieulafoy lesion of the gallbladder: A rare cause of hemobilia and acute pancreatitis - Case report

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Dieulafoy lesion of the gallbladder is a very rare cause of hemobilia.

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Hemobilia should be considered as a cause of acute pancreatitis.

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Intraoperative cholangiogram is effective in flushing small biliary clots.

Introduction

Dieulafoy lesion of the gallbladder is very rare. It can cause hemobilia and, consequently, acute pancreatitis. After extensive research, the authors found six reported cases of this entity, none of them presenting as acute pancreatitis.

Case presentation

A 78-year-old woman presented to the emergency department a right upper-quadrant pain and nausea. Abdominal ultrasound showed a gallbladder full of a heterogenic content with no signs of lithiasis or acute cholecystitis. Blood lipase was significantly elevated. She was admitted for acute pancreatitis. During hospitalization she developed jaundice and hematemesis requiring blood transfusion. The upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy with side-view duodenoscopy showed blood through the papilla of Vater. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the content of the gallbladder with no changes in the biliary tree. A laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiogram was performed. Histology revealed a Dieulafoy lesion. The patient was discharged three days after surgery and had no subsequent episodes.

Conclusion

Hemobilia should be considered as a cause of upper GI bleeding and acute pancreatitis, especially if both are concurrent. Treatment is directed to the cause, with bleeding control and restoration of bile flow, which can be accomplished by a single minimally invasive surgery.

Rectal Dieulafoy's Lesion: A Rare Etiology of Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

A Dieulafoy's lesion is defined as a dilated submucosal vessel that erodes the overlying epithelium without evidence of a primary ulcer or erosion. It is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding that is difficult to identify and subsequently manage. Most commonly, they occur in the upper gastrointestinal tract, namely the stomach. A Dieulafoy's lesion of the rectum, however, is an exceedingly rare presentation that can lead to life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding. Our case consists of an 84-year-old man, who presented with lower gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to a Dieulafoy's lesion of the rectum.