Small Intestinal Bleeding: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
VASCULAR MALFORMATION OF SMALL INTESTINE AND OTHER CAUSES OF SMALL INTESTINAL BLEEDING
Approximately 5% of cases of gastrointestinal bleeding occur in the small bowel, defined as the region between the ampulla of Vater and the ileocecal valve. Small intestinal vascular malformations are responsible for the majority of cases of small intestinal bleeding. They are more often seen in elderly patients, as is enteropathy induced by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Small intestinal tumors, Crohn disease, and nonspecific enteritis are more common in individuals under 40 years of age. Rarer causes include Meckel diverticulum, hemobilia, hemosuccus pancreaticus, and aortoenteric fistula.









