This report describes the case of a 65-year-old man with a prolonged history of gastrointestinal bleeding of unknown origin. During a 2-year period, he underwent 28 endoscopic procedures, three angiographies with or without heparin provocation, a nuclear scan, and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging, none of which were diagnostic. A blind ileocecal resection was also carried out. A diagnosis of hemosuccus pancreaticus secondary to a ruptured primary splenic artery aneurysm was obtained by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and successful interventional radiographic embolization of the splenic artery aneurysm was conducted. During a 17-month follow-up period, no relapse of gastrointestinal bleeding was observed.
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G. Costamagna, M. D.
Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, ”A. Gemelli” University Hospital
Largo A. Gemelli 8 · 00168 Rome · Italy
Fax: +39-06-3015 6581
eMail: gcostamagna@rm.unicatt.it