PROLONGED OVERT OBSCURE GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING - A "REAL WORLD" EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Introduction Prolonged overt obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) after an initial normal oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy can be difficult to manage. “Real-world” studies with all of the endoscopic (capsule endoscopy, device-assisted enteroscopy), radiological (radionuclide red cell scan, CT angiography and angiographic embolisation) and surgical interventions or therapies are lacking. Methods We studied the investigation and treatment of such patients, requiring transfusion with ≥1 inpatient stay of 7 days between 2004 and 2012 at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Epworth Eastern Hospi..