A case of primary mesenteric vein thrombosis with extensive small bowel infarct beginning
at the ligament of Treitz presented as upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Although endoscopy
of the upper GI tract disclosed erosive gastritis this finding was considered insufficient
to explain the hematemesis; therefore the endoscope was advanced further until a necrotic
and aperistaltic-looking mucosa was found in the area of the ligament of Treitz. This
paper describes the endoscopic picture of necrotic duodenal mucosa, and stresses the
importance of a deeper examination into the duodenum when a clear-cut cause for the
bleeding is not found in the stomach or duodenal bulb.
Upper GI bleeding - Mesenteric venous infarction - Endoscopy of the upper GI tract
