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Massive hemorrhage following gastroscopy

Probable example of Mallory-Weiss syndrome

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Summary

Gastroscopic examination was attempted in a 32-year-old male alcoholic who had experienced two episodes of major upper gastrointestinal bleeding following a bout of violent vomiting. The instrument could not be introduced beyond the cardia and no mucosal detail was visible. About two hours after gastroscopy another severe upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred. At operation, two longitudinal tears in the mucosa of the cardia were found. Active arterial bleeding from the larger of the lacerations, 2 cm. in length and 3 cm. below the gastroesophageal junction, was present. These lesions could have been due to trauma from the gastroscope tip. However, it seems more likely that they represented tears secondary to vomiting such as those described by Mallory and Weiss.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Medical Service of the Strong Memorial and Rochester Municipal Hospitals and the Department of Medicine of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, N. Y.

    Maurice L. Kelley Jr. M.D.

Authors
  1. Maurice L. Kelley Jr. M.D.
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Additional information

Bixby Fellow in Medicine and Instructor in Medicine, The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Appreciation is expressed to Dr. Harry L. Segal for his helpful suggestions in the preparation of this report.

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Kelley, M.L. Massive hemorrhage following gastroscopy. Digest Dis Sci 3, 454–463 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02231261

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