Angiodysplasia

Angiodysplasia is an abnormal, tortuous, dilated small blood vessel in the mucosal and submucosal layers of the

GI tract

. It is the most common vascular abnormality in the GI tract. Although usually readily seen by colonoscopy and angiography, they are often difficult to diagnose in pathologic specimens.
If left untreated, angiodysplasia can cause severe blood loss. And in cases of extreme anemia, you may need a blood transfusion.
Symptoms

Bleeding from anus

  • Painless

common

Black stool

or Throwing up

  • Blood in vomit

common

Anemia

or Unusual lightness of skin color

common

Fatigue

common

Difficulty breathing

Appetite for non-nutritive substances

Fainting

or Dizziness

Risk factors

Valvular heart disease

Kidney failure or on dialysis

Blood clotting disorder

Thick and hard skin

or Liver cirrhosis

Treatment
Treatment is in accordance with the severity of bleeding, hemodynamic stability, and recurrence of symptoms. Most bleeding angiodysplasias will cease spontaneously. For asymptomatic patients, treatment is not recommended, but the following are the known therapy options for symptomatic cases: 1-Angiography. In this procedure, your doctor uses a thin plastic tube to deliver medicine to a bleeding blood vessel. This medication closes up the blood vessel and stops bleeding. 2-Cauterizing. Once your doctor identifies the site of the bleeding, they can use cauterization to close off a part of the vein and stop the bleeding. This procedure may be performed using an endoscope, a flexible tube that passes through your mouth into the stomach and upper part of the small intestines. 3-Surgery. If you have severe bleeding from the colon, surgery may be the only option to stop the bleeding. In this case, your doctor may remove the right side of your colon.
Recommended specialist

If you have Angiodysplasia, then a visit to a gastroenterologist is highly recommended.

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Gastroenterologist

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