Angiodysplasia

Angiodysplasia - a problem where the colon has enlarged and fragile blood vessels (often in multiple places around the the cecum or ascending colon). This causes occasional loss of blood from the gastrointestinal and causes red stool. There is no known prevention for this disease other than maintaining a healthy blood circulation system.

Causes of Angiodysplasia

Aging that causes typical degeneration of the blood vessels is considered to be the main cause of Angiodysplasia. Swelling and enlargement blood vessels in the colon area sometimes create a direct passageway between very small arteries and veins and it is . the area of the colon wall that the patient is at risk for bleeding.

Symptoms of Angiodysplasia

The symptoms are often:

• Weakness and fatigue
• Shortness of breath due to loss of iron anemia
• Possible bright red, dark or black stools
• Possible black, tarry stool (melena)

There may not be any signs of bleeding directly from the colon because there may not be enough blood to be noticed in the stool. Occasional mild or severe bleeding episodes with bright red blood coming from the rectum are possible.

Tests For Angiodysplasia Diagnosis

• Angiography
• Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia
• Colonoscopy Procedure
• Stool guaiac test
• Fecal occult blood testing
• Pill enteroscopy - a major advance in diagnosis, where a pill that contains a video camera and radio transmitter is swallowed, and pictures of the small intestine are sent to a receiver

If the bleeding persists, the patient may need to be admitted to a hospital's intensive care unit (ICU).

Treatment For Angiodysplasia

• Angiography to help form a clot in the bleeding area
• Delivering medicine to help the blood vessels tighten to stop the bleeding
• Burning (cauterizing) the site of the bleeding
• Argon plasma coagulation (Using electrical energy) to stop the bleeding
• Surgery: removal of the entire right side of the colon (right hemicolectomy) for patients who bleed at a dangerously quick rate
• Therapy is to reduce, if not totally eliminate, the number of bleeds, hospitalizations, and blood transfusions
• Blood transfusion to replace lost blood
• Medications - antifibrinolytics tranexamic acid, aminocaproic acid or estrogen hormone
Patients who have bleeding related to this condition despite having had colonoscopy, angiography, or surgery are likely to have more bleeding in the future.