Abstract

RAMIREZ, Mariana  and  RESTREPO-CASTRILLON, Jasson. Hemobilia, a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Rev. colomb. Gastroenterol. [online]. 2021, vol.36, n.2, pp.263-266.  Epub Nov 25, 2021. ISSN 0120-9957.  https://doi.org/10.22516/25007440.626.

Hemobilia is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract bleeding. Its main etiology is iatrogenic, and the possibility of hemobilia should be considered in any patient with GI bleeding and a recent history of hepatobiliary surgery. Other less frequent causes include abdominal trauma, oncologic disease of the biliary tract, or inflammatory diseases of the pancreas or bile duct. Its clinical presentation varies depending on the severity of the bleeding. It usually presents with abdominal pain, jaundice, and tarry stools, although patients may also present with rectorrhagia and hypotension on admission. A high percentage of these symptoms have a spontaneous resolution, without requiring additional procedures. Angiography is the gold standard for the diagnosis of hemobilia, but advances in computed tomography angiography make it a less invasive and more widely available option. Endovascular embolization is the main treatment for these patients, but there are other alternatives such as vascular or bile duct stent placement.

Keywords : Hemobilia; Gastrointestinal bleeding; Biliary tract.

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