Ectopic varices masquerading as lower gastrointestinal bleeding

Abstract

A middle-aged woman previously in good health arrived to hospital with severe haemorrhagic shock. An abdominal and pelvic CT scan showed hepatomegaly, fluid in the sigmoid colon, perigastric and right sided pelvic varices without a clear source of bleeding. Urgent esophagogastroduodenoscopy excluded gastric varices and active upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the colonoscopy was inconclusive due to haemodynamic instability and massive bleeding which made it impossible to proceed with a full colonoscopy. An explorative laparotomy identified liver cirrhosis and bleeding from varices of the right fallopian tube which had formed a fistula with the caecum. A right hemicolectomy with a side to side anastomosis and a right sided salpingo-oophorectomy were carried out. The patient was thereafter transferred to the intensive care unit intubated, requiring massive fluid resuscitation and high doses of vasoactive agents. Nine days after hospital admission she was transferred to the surgical ward and followed up by a hepatologist.