COLONIC VARICEAL BLEEDING IN A PATIENT WITH MESENTERIC VENOUS OBSTRUCTION DUE TO AN ILEAL CARCINOID-TUMOR

Colonic varices are a recognized cause of rectal bleeding in portal hy pertension. We report here a patient who presented with melaena severa l months after resection of an ileal carcinoid tumour. Subsequent colo noscopy for continued episodes of rectal bleeding demonstrated extensi ve colonic varices. In the absence of portal hypertension, the varices appeared to be related to mesenteric venous obstruction. The manageme nt of bleeding colonic varices, in these circumstances, is discussed.