[Hemobilia in cholecystolithiasis as a rare cause of massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage]

Chirurg. 1997 Jan;68(1):87-9. doi: 10.1007/s001040050156.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Haemobilia is defined as bleeding into the hepatobiliary system caused by a pathologic connection between blood vessels and biliary ducts. A rare cause of haemobilia is gallstone disease, with only 52 reported cases in the literature. The haemobilia is characterised by the classical triad: jaundice, colicky pain in the right upper quadrant and signs of gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnosis can be made with endoscopic procedures and with angiography of the coeliac trunk, which has the highest sensitivity in localisation of bleeding source. The therapy of choice is cholecystectomy. We report the case of a patient with massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage caused by a solitary gallstone and present the diagnostic and therapeutic management of this disease, which is accompanied by a high mortality.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angiography
  • Cholelithiasis / complications*
  • Cholelithiasis / pathology
  • Cholelithiasis / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Gallbladder / blood supply
  • Gallbladder / pathology
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / pathology
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / surgery
  • Hemobilia / etiology*
  • Hemobilia / pathology
  • Hemobilia / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male