[Diagnosis and surgical procedure in intestinal hemorrhage as a sequela of vascular abnormalities (angiodysplasia)].

Angiodysplasia is in 5-20% the source of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly. The etiology is unknown. We describe 8 patients with multiple intestinal bleeding from an angiodysplasia, treated between 1986 and 1989. The mean age of the patients was 49.1 years. Four patients were older than 65 years. The localisations were in 6 cases the ascendic colon, in one case the terminal ileum and rectum each. Selective mesenteric arteriography has proved to be the best method of diagnosis. Isotope studies and endoscopies may not demonstrate the localisation in acute bleeding. The treatment of angiodysplasia is the segmental resection of the effected portion of the bowel. In 5 of 8 patients we performed the right hemicolectomy, in 3 patients the resection of the terminal ileum (n = 2) or rectum (n = 1). The follow up of our patients was 15 to 44 month.