Arteriovenous Malformations in Proximal Part of Ileum: A Case Report

Abstract

Arteriovenous malformations in the ileum are a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in young adults with few reported cases and pose difficulty in diagnosing. They usually present with chronic gastrointestinal bleed. A 30-year-old woman presented with an acute episode of hematochezia with a history of intermittent melena for 1.5 years. Complete blood count revealed a low hemoglobin level of 3.5g/dl and hypochromic microcytic anemia. Oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy was normal; however, a colonoscopy revealed the terminal ileum and colon filled with blood. Computed tomography-Angiogram showed local intraluminal contrast extravasation in the ileum. Explorative laparotomy and on-table enteroscopy were performed identifying a small elevated, pigmented, and eroded mucosa (5 to 6 mm) in proximal ileum; resection and primary anastomosis were performed. The patient was followed after surgical resection and her symptoms improved dramatically with no additional episodes of melena and with the normalization of hemoglobin.

Keywords

• arteriovenous malformation; ileum; enteroscopy.