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Massive pan-gastrointestinal bleeding following cocaine use

  • Case Report
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Abstract

Background

An 18-year-old adolescent with cystic fibrosis developed massive gastrointestinal bleeding.

Methods

History, physical examination, upper and lower endoscopy and wireless capsule endoscopy were performed.

Results

Upper and lower endoscopy did not reveal cause of persistent bleeding. Wireless capsule endoscopy revealed pan-gastrointestinal ischemic injury. Further discussion with the patient revealed recent cocaine ingestion.

Conclusion

Most reported cases of gut injury following cocaine abuse describe juxtapyloric and colonic injury; this case demonstrates that ischemic gut injury after cocaine use can be extensive and may be the reason for the associated high mortality.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

    Troy Emanuel Gibbons & George Joseph Fuchs

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

    Kadria Sayed

Authors
  1. Troy Emanuel Gibbons
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  2. Kadria Sayed
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  3. George Joseph Fuchs
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Troy Emanuel Gibbons.

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Gibbons, T.E., Sayed, K. & Fuchs, G.J. Massive pan-gastrointestinal bleeding following cocaine use. World J Pediatr 5, 149–151 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-009-0030-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-009-0030-5

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