위낭종 누공과 췌장 가성낭종 출혈에 의한 반복적인 상부위장관 출혈 1예

Recurrent Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding from Gastro-Cystic Fistula and Pancreatic Pseudocyst Bleeding

Article information

Korean J Pancreas Biliary Tract. 2014;19(2):111-115
Publication date (electronic) : 2014 April 30
doi : https://doi.org/10.15279/kpba.2014.19.2.111
1Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon Sarang Hospital, Incheon, Korea
2Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea
박요한1, 이병환1, 임지현1, 강형주1, 이창희1, 김연석,2
1인천사랑병원 내과
2가천의과학대학교 길병원 내과
Corresponding author : Yeon Suk Kim Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, 21 Namdong-daero, 774beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon 405-760, Korea Tel. +82-32-460-3778 Fax. +82-32-460-3426 E-mail; drkim@gilhospital.com
Received 2014 March 5; Revised 2014 April 7; Accepted 2014 April 14.

Trans Abstract

Bleeding from pancreatic pseudocyst is a rare complication. Furthermore, massive upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding from gastro-cystic fistula formation and intracystic bleeding are both extremely rare and are also potentially fatal. A 53-year-old male was referred to the emergency room with melena and hematemesis. An urgent endoscopy revealed a massive gastric hematoma but showed no specific bleeding focus. Gastrocystic fistula formation and intracystic bleeding leakage to the stomach were suspicious in the follow-up endoscopy. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan demonstrated splenic artery pseudoaneurysm and extravasation of contrast media into the cyst that was abutted to the greater curvature side of the stomach. A splenic artery embolization was performed and no further bleeding occurred after embolization. Upper GI bleeding from gastro-cystic fistula and intracystic bleeding are rare but possible. Therefore, this possibility should be considered in the unknown cause of an upper GI bleeding in a patient with pancreatic pseudocyst.

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic pseudocyst is a common complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis, developing in up to 15% and 40% of these groups of patients[1]. Complications of pancreatic pseudocyst include infection, splenic vein thrombosis, rupture of pseudocyst, and massive hemorrhage into the pseudocyst[2]. Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is an uncommon but possible complication of pancreatic pseudocyst. This complication could occur after a fistula formation from the pseudocyst to the internal hollow organs[3]. Either upper or lower GI bleeding is possible according to the location of the fistula formation[4-6]. The gastric bleeding can be caused by the gastrocystic fistula formation and intracystic bleeding. Intracystic bleeding commonly originated from splenic artery pseudoaneurysm and this arterial bleeding could result in a fatal outcome[4,5]. Furthermore, there is a possibility of a massive upper GI bleeding, which is extremely rare[4,5].

Because GI bleeding associated with pseudocyst can be fatal, a spontaneous hemorrhage through gastrocystic fistula from the rupture of a pseudoaneurysm inside the pseudocyst should be suspected, in case the usual sources of bleeding are not detected through endoscopy. Here, we present a case of recurrent upper GI bleeding from gastrocystic fistula and pancreatic pseudocyst bleeding, which was controlled successfully by splenic artery embolization.

CASE

A 53-year-old male was referred to the emergency department due to melena and hematemesis. Melena has been presented for 2 days and a total amount of approximately 300 mL of blood from hematemesis was obtained at the time of referral. The patient’s past medical history revealed that he was a heavy alcohol drinker and has received treatment for alcoholic pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudocyst more than one month ago. His computed tomography (CT) scan, which he underwent during his past admission period, revealed a large pancreatic pseudocyst adjacent to the greater curvature side of his stomach with peripancreatic space infiltration and fluid collection (Fig. 1). However, the liver and spleen were relatively normal in appearance.

Fig. 1.

A large pancreatic pseudocyst (arrow) was notified adjacent to the greater curvature side of the stomach in the computed tomography scan when the patient was admitted one month prior due to acute alcoholic pancreatitis.

He had no previous history of peptic ulcer or gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. The blood pressure of the patient in the emergency room was 86/60 mmHg and his pulse rate was 90 beats per minute. His conjunctivae were extremely anemic. His abdomen was relatively soft and flat. There was mild-tomoderate tenderness in the epigastric area. On laboratory examination, his hemoglobin was 6.9 g/dL, hematocrit was 20.6%, and other laboratory data were within normal range.

An emergency gastroduodenal endoscopic exam revealed a large fresh hematoma in the stomach without specific bleeding focus or current bleeding (Fig. 2). Three packs of red blood cells were transfused and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit.

Fig. 2.

A large fresh hematoma was noted but an active bleeding focus was not found in the urgent endoscopy. During the urgent endoscopy, we could not take a look further into the greater curvature of the stomach due to the large hematoma.

We performed a follow-up endoscopy after the stabilization of the patient to evaluate the bleeding focus. In the follow- up endoscopy, a large and extrinsic compression lesion was observed in the greater curvature side of the mid-tohigh part of the stomach. And an acute and large erosion was observed in the central area of the extrinsic compression lesion. At the time of the interval observation, a small amount of bloody fluid recurrently trickled out from the central erosion after saline irrigation (Fig. 3). This finding strongly suggested that the pancreatic pseudocyst abutted to the body of the extrinsically compressed stomach and caused a recurrent upper GI bleeding through the gastrocystic fistula from intracystic bleeding.

Fig. 3.

An acute erosion was documented in the central area of the extrinsic compressed lesion and a small amount of bloody fluid has recurrently trickled out after saline irrigation in the follow-up endoscopy. This finding suggested that the recurrent bleeding occurred from the gastrocystic fistula formation and intracystic bleeding of the pancreatic pseudocyst.

We immediately performed a contrast-enhanced CT scan to confirm the lesion. The CT scan revealed an intracystic hemorrhage of the pseudocyst which was located between the stomach and spleen. Furthermore, a splenic artery pseudoaneurysm was formed and an extravasation of the contrast media into the pseudocyst was also demonstrated (Fig. 4). Through these findings, we were able to confirm that the cause of the recurrent upper GI bleeding originated from gastrocystic fistula formation and intracystic aneurysmal bleeding. For the urgent angiography, the patient was transferred to Gachon University Gil Medical Center. Urgent angiography and therapeutic splenic artery embolization were successfully performed to stop further bleeding (Fig. 5). After the embolization, the patient’s clinical course was uneventful and no recurrence of bleeding has been reported after discharge.

Fig. 4.

The extravasation of the contrast media (arrowhead) and the aneurysmal dilatation of the splenic artery (arrow) were notified in the follow-up computed tomography scan. This radiologic finding was compatible with the deduction during endoscopy.

Fig. 5.

Urgent angiography showed splenic artery pseudoaneurysm. Successful coil embolization was performed and further extravasation of contrast media to the pseudoaneurysm was not observed.

DISCUSSION

A pancreatic pseudocyst is a cystic cavity contiguous with the pancreas and bound to it by epithelial inflammation. Unlike true cysts, a pancreatic pseudocyst lacks an epithelial lining and the epithelium of the cavity is usually lined with inflammatory tissues[7]. The most common cause of pancreatic pseudocyst is chronic alcohol abuse. Other causes are idiopathic, post operative, biliary tract disease, and abdominal trauma[8]. Signs and symptoms of pseudocyst are nonspecific which include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and epigastric tenderness. Ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced CT scan are most commonly used to establish the diagnosis of a pseudocyst[8]. Pancreatic pseudocyst can cause various complications which include obstructive jaundice, portal hypertension, infection, splenic vein thrombosis, rupture, and massive hemorrhage[2].

The bleeding complication of pancreatic pseudocyst in patients with chronic pancreatitis has been reported to be around 6-10%[9]. Serious bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, duodenum and colon), retroperitoneum or peritoneum may occur. The overall mortality rate is approximately 13% in treated patients and 90% in untreated patients[9]. An upper GI bleeding from a pancreatic pseudocyst is a rare complication. Less than 1% of upper GI bleedings are caused by pancreatic pseudocyst[3]. The bleeding of a pancreatic pseudocyst commonly originated from pseudoaneurysm. The most common source of bleeding is the splenic artery (31%), followed by gastroduodenal (24%), superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal (21%), and hepatic artery[10]. Three mechanisms of bleeding and rupture of the pseudocysts have been reported[11]. First, the inflammation and lytic enzymes of a pseudocyst can cause progressive digestion of the vessel wall. Therefore, erosion or disruption of the vessel wall is complicated. Second, the compression of a pseudocyst can produce ischemia of the vessel wall. Third, the inflammation or compression of a pseudocyst can cause thrombosis of the portal or splenic vein. Therefore, localized portal hypertension can be complicated.

In cases of a bleeding-complicated pseudocyst with or without pseudoaneurysms, several surgical procedures such as gastrectomy, splenectomy, bleeding arterial ligation, and pancreatectomy had been performed. The mortality rate was 33% following urgent operation[12]. Therefore, a surgical approach may be considered as relatively high risk. Another treatment option for a bleeding-complicated pseudocyst is angiographic embolization. A relevant data revealed that the success rate of angiographic embolization was 91% and the mortality rate was 14%[13]. An angiographic control of the bleeding was performed in other cases before undergoing elective surgery of a bleeding-complicated pseudocyst[14].

In this case, after the diagnosis of bleeding from a pancreatic pseudocyst, splenic artery angiography and angiographic embolization were successful. No further gastric bleeding was observed; therefore, a surgical approach was not performed. Even though angiographic embolization was successful in this case, we thought that the choice of a surgical procedure or angiographic embolization may vary in each patient’s clinical evolution.

In conclusion, we reported a case of a recurrent upper GI bleeding that originated from gastro-cystic fistula formation and intracystic aneurysmal bleeding of a pancreatic pseudocyst. And the massive gastric bleeding of a pancreatic pseudocyst is associated with high mortality. Therefore, an urgent contrast-enhanced CT scan with or without angiographic embolization or even surgery is necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment. The bleeding-complicated pseudocyst should be considered as one of the causes of recurrent GI bleeding in patients with pancreatic pseudocyst.

Notes

The author has no conflicts to disclose.

References

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Article information Continued

Fig. 1.

A large pancreatic pseudocyst (arrow) was notified adjacent to the greater curvature side of the stomach in the computed tomography scan when the patient was admitted one month prior due to acute alcoholic pancreatitis.

Fig. 2.

A large fresh hematoma was noted but an active bleeding focus was not found in the urgent endoscopy. During the urgent endoscopy, we could not take a look further into the greater curvature of the stomach due to the large hematoma.

Fig. 3.

An acute erosion was documented in the central area of the extrinsic compressed lesion and a small amount of bloody fluid has recurrently trickled out after saline irrigation in the follow-up endoscopy. This finding suggested that the recurrent bleeding occurred from the gastrocystic fistula formation and intracystic bleeding of the pancreatic pseudocyst.

Fig. 4.

The extravasation of the contrast media (arrowhead) and the aneurysmal dilatation of the splenic artery (arrow) were notified in the follow-up computed tomography scan. This radiologic finding was compatible with the deduction during endoscopy.

Fig. 5.

Urgent angiography showed splenic artery pseudoaneurysm. Successful coil embolization was performed and further extravasation of contrast media to the pseudoaneurysm was not observed.