A 70-year-old male presented to our medical center with one episode of “black tarry stools” in the morning. Three weeks prior to this admission, the patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), which revealed a 6-mm, clean-based ulcer at the gastroesophageal junction without active bleeding. Colonoscopy, performed during the same visit, was significant for mild diverticulosis and small nonbleeding hemorrhoids. He had a medical history of chronic active alcohol abuse, prior gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, and non-small-cell lung cancer (T2N0M0; status post-lobectomy, 18 years ago). The patient had been consuming 3-4 drinks of liquor daily; however, he was non-smoker and drug-free. He was under therapy with oral iron sulfate, metformin, pantoprazole, enalapril, and multivitamins. Review of the systems was significant for fatigue, malaise, and confusion. His vitals included blood pressure 137/81 mm Hg, heart rate 108 beats per minute, temperature 36.9°C, respiratory rate 16 per minute and oxygen saturation 100% on room air. On physical examination, he was in no acute distress but appeared lethargic. The cardiopulmonary examination was inconclusive for abnormalities. The abdomen was soft and non-tender without organomegaly.\nHe underwent extensive diagnostic workup. The details of his laboratory studies are provided in Table .\nChest radiograph showed left-sided thoracotomy with chronically elevated left hemidiaphragm but no airspace opacity, effusion, or pneumothorax. He was started on intravenous proton-pump inhibitor therapy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Subsequently, EGD showed nodular, edematous and erythematous mucosa with petechial hemorrhages in the gastric fundus and body, with questionable prominence of underlying vasculature (Figure ).\nThe endoscopy was inconclusive for an active bleeding focus; duodenum appeared normal. He also received one unit of packed red blood cells. During the course of hospitalization, he continued to experience black-colored stools. His hemoglobin demonstrated a gradual downward trend, prompting the need for a second endoscopic evaluation. On day 7 of admission, repeat EGD revealed frank fresh blood along with blood clots in the proximal body of the stomach. The clots were irrigated, suctioned, and removed with Roth net. A pinpoint area under one of the removed clots was actively oozing, which mimicked a Dieulafoy’s lesion; primary hemostasis was achieved with a combination therapy using epinephrine injection, cautery, and hemoclip application (Figure ).\nOn day 10 of admission, laboratory studies showed an acute elevation of liver enzymes (alanine transaminase 1096 IU/L; aspartate aminotransferase 123 IU/L; alkaline phosphatase 47 IU/L; and total bilirubin 1.3 mg/dL). Drug-induced liver injury and obstructing lesion were considered plausible. Computed tomography (CT) with pancreatic imaging protocol revealed a large 4.2 x 2.9-cm pseudoaneurysm, likely arising from the gastroduodenal artery, located in the head of the pancreas, with evidence of moderate intrahepatic ductal dilatation and portal vein obstruction. Given the large size with compressive features of the surrounding structures, embolization of the pseudoaneurysm utilizing 11 coils with thrombin/Gelfoam injection was performed (Figure ).\nA two-day post-procedure abdominal ultrasound showed an increase in the size of the pseudoaneurysm, measuring 5.6 x 5.8 cm. Interventional radiology then repeated the embolotherapy with thrombin injection. In the next few days, he continued to report both melena and bright red blood per rectum, but his hemoglobin remained stable. On day 19 of admission, third EGD was performed, which was unremarkable for an active bleeding spot. His hemoglobin started to drop but another endoscopic evaluation was not recommended as last EGD was unremarkable. Therein, a bleeding scan showed an equivocal left-flank bleeding focus, not suggestive of a lower gastrointestinal collection, but possibly a small bowel focus with low-grade extravasation. Subsequently, his hemoglobin dropped to 6.3 g/dL, with no signs of overt gastrointestinal hemorrhage. On day 27 of admission, abdominal paracentesis ruled out hemoperitoneum and CTA abdomen showed possible hemorrhage in the left flank outside the gastrointestinal tract, possibly due to an infarcted spleen.\nAfter a discussion with surgery and gastroenterology teams, a repeat EGD with a side-viewing duodenoscope was planned. It initially demonstrated an extremely small blood-oozing spot from the ampulla of Vater. The blood extravasation increased shortly after first pinpointing the source. Over the next few seconds, the blood started to ooze at a rapid rate. In the next one minute, frank intermittent bleeding through the ampulla of Vater into the duodenum was identified (Figure ).\nThese findings were consistent with hemosuccus pancreaticus, likely due to the bleeding from the pseudoaneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery. After the precise etiology establishment, surgical intervention was considered due to prior failed attempts of embolization. However, there was a high risk of perioperative mortality given the patient’s comorbid conditions, poor clinical and performance status and complexity of the anatomical location of pseudoaneurysm. Therefore, a conservative approach was preferred by the patient and his family. On the other hand, he continued to experience intermittent hemorrhage requiring blood transfusions with episodes of hemodynamic instability. An urgent embolization of the pseudoaneurysm was planned. However, the patient and his family refused to undergo therapeutic procedures. The patient continued to worsen clinically over the next few days but he wished not to be resuscitated. He died in a couple of days following hemodynamic instability.
A 47-year-old male, nonsmoker with no significant medical history initially presented with sudden onset right-sided chest pain, fever, and shortness of breath. After a hemorrhagic pleural tap and chest x-ray demonstrating large retro cardiac soft tissue density, gross right pleural effusion, and right lower lobe lung collapse the patient was referred to our center with a working diagnosis of thoracic malignancy and large lung carcinoma with hemorrhagic pleural effusion.\nThe patient was admitted to our center for further workup. Immediately after, the patient experienced severe respiratory distress; oxygen saturation (SpO2) was 74% on two liters of oxygen. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) with pulse: 102 beats per minute and regular, blood pressure: 95/79 mm Hg, respiratory rate: 22/minute, temperature: 97°F, and SpO2: 100% on high-flow oxygen. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 15/15, and on examination of the chest, there was decreased air entry on the right side. A right-sided chest drain was placed; 1300 ml of hemorrhagic fluid was drained by the end of the day. Total leukocyte count (TLC) then was 21710/mm^3. A blood and sputum culture was obtained. The sputum sample demonstrated Klebsiella pneumonia, which was managed accordingly, normalizing the counts on the days to come. Whole blood was transfused during the ICU stay as required. After three days the patient was shifted to the general ward with the drain holding 50 ml of blood and stable vital signs.\nCECT chest performed on the fifth day of admission demonstrated a large lesion involving the subcarinal region with intensely enhancing focus adjacent to right bronchus intermedius likely pseudoaneurysm with associated hematoma, collapse of basal right-lower lobe, and collection in the right pleural space (Figure ). The plan for the trucut biopsy of the lung was deferred, and a bronchial angiogram with embolization for bronchial artery pseudoaneurysm was planned. The right common femoral artery was accessed with a 5 French gauge (Fr) vascular sheath, a diagnostic angiographic catheter (Shepherd catheter 5 Fr, Cook Medical, USA) aided in cannulating the right bronchial artery. A selective angiogram revealed a pseudoaneurysm with patent distal flow (Figure ). After the introduction of the 2.1 Fr microcatheter (Artec microcatheter, Japan) the distal normal arterial lumen was reached and coiled with a 2 mm x 2 mm pushable coil (Cook Medical, USA). Similarly, a 2 mm x 2 mm pushable coil was used to trap the front door/proximal part of the right bronchial artery. Post coil embolization, angiogram after 15 minutes showed reduced flow to the sac; however, complete thrombosis was not seen (Figure ). Another permanent embolizing agent Glue mixed with lipiodol (1:7 ratio) was used to achieve complete embolization endpoint. The final angiogram revealed complete thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm sac and the right bronchial artery (Figure ). No immediate complications were noted. Hemostasis was achieved at the groin by manual compression. After a few days, the chest tube was removed due to a minimal drain.\nFollow-up CT angiography showed coils in the subcarinal region without obvious abnormal enhancement suggestive of adequate embolization and a slight decrease in the size of hematoma at the subcarinal region. The patient was hemodynamically stable and symptomatically better, thus was discharged after one week of hospital stay. The patient was re-evaluated after three weeks by a CECT chest, which showed a significant interval decrease in the lesion at the subcarinal region, subsegmental collapse of a basal segment of the right lower lung, and a significant decrease in the pleural collection (Figure ).