Gastrointestinal bleeding in aortic stenosis.

Gastrointestinal bleeding in aortic stenosis is an uncommon condition but when present it is often undiagnosed. The usual radiological proceedures fail to demonstrate the source of bleeding. Mesenteric angiography, however, will identify the lesion. The lesion is usually a vascular malformation located in the right colon. The angiodysplasia may also occur in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. We have encountered five patients with aortic stenosis who had multiple massive hemorrhages of the lower gastrointestinal tract who defied diagnosis by the conventional methods. Mesenteric angiography, however, disclosed the orgin of the bleeding. In four patients vascular malformations were found in the right colon and one in the jejunum. Right hemicolectomy and partial jejunectomy resulted in a cure in all.