Dieulafoy ulcer

Cause of about 4 % of high digestive hemorrhages in adults, rare in children.

Hemorrhage originating from an abnormally large artery located in the gastric submuca. The lesion is usually located on the lesser curvature of the stomach but other locations are possible (duodenum, colon).

Clinical signs: hematemesis of red blood, melena.

Diagnosis: digestive endoscopy that sometimes needs to be repeated because the lesion can be difficult to visualize between the bleeding episodes.

Treatment: endoscopic hemostasis (adrenaline tamponade or injection, sclerotherapy, clipping, biological glue).


Anesthetic implications:

anemia, hypovolemia, management of a full stomach


References : 

-         Coit AK, Pisharody U, Kamitsuka M.
Dieulafoy lesion : an unusual cause of excessive gastric bleeding in a neonate.
J Pediatr 2019 ; 213 : 244-5.


Updated: October 2019