A pediatric patient with gastric vascular ectasia

Abstract

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a rare cause of chronic gastrointestinal bleeding with its own endoscopic characteristics. In children, there are isolated reports as a cause of non-variceal gastrointestinal hemorrhage. It is important to get timely recognition and treatment as it can manifest itself with an acute episode of bleeding, becoming life-threatening. We report the case of an 18-year-old female patient with a history of hepatic cirrhosis diagnosed 5 years ago, chronic anemia and melena-like upper gastrointestinal bleeding. This was the reason why upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is ordered. A diagnosis of diffused vascular ectasias in the gastric antrum and moderate portal hypertensive gastropathy was made. High-definition endoscopic techniques, Blue Light Imaging (BLI) and Linked Color Imaging (LCI) were performed. Treatment with argon plasma coagulation was carried out, without complications. After several treatment sessions the bleeding episodes were diminished.

Keywords

• gastrointestinal hemorrhage
• gastric antral vascular ectasia
• endoscopy, gastrointestinal