Dieulafoy lesion endoscopically rubber banded, with further severe haematemesis requiring emergency laparotomy – Case report

Abstract

Dieulafoy lesion is a rare cause of massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage that can be fatal. We report a case of a sixty-year-old lady who presented to the emergency department with haematemesis and melaena. During oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD), an active bleeding vessel was seen on the lesser curvature of the stomach, near the gastro-oesophageal junction and a diagnosis of Dieulafoy's lesion made. The lesion was managed with the application of two rubber bands. Our patient re-presented to the emergency department ten days later with severe haematemesis requiring an emergency laparotomy.A search of the entire English literature using PubMed with the phrase ‘Dieulafoy’ has been performed. Papers were reviewed in relation to management of this lesion with rubber banding via endoscopy. The current available haemostatic methods are described.