Variceal bleeding from an ileostomy stoma.

Patients with portal hypertension due to cirrhosis commonly have bleeding from varices. In patients with a total colectomy, ileal varices can be a site of bleeding in cases of portal hypertension. Proper diagnosis requires studying the venous phase of the mesenteric arteriogram to show ileal varices, and carefully inspecting the mucocutaneous region of the ileal stoma for venous bleeding sites. Bleeding from ileal varices can be managed by either local control or portal vein decompression.