Gastrointestinal Bleeding Caused by Giant Duodenal Diverticula

Abstract

A 63-year-old man was referred to our institution from his local hospital emergency room to perform an upper digestive tract endoscopy. The patient had been brought to the local hospital a few hours earlier with signs of alcohol abuse, including also an impaired mental condition. A physical examination revealed pale skin and a median longitudinal abdominal scar. Abnormal laboratory values included hemoglobin 6.8 g/dL and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase 770 U/L (normal value, 8–78). Melena-like residues were detected during finger rectal exploration.