Protocolo diagnóstico de la hemorragia digestiva de origen oscuro

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is defined as bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract that persists or recurs without an obvious aetiology after esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and radiologic evaluation of the small bowel. It could be categorized based on the presence or absence of clinically evident bleeding. In most cases, the responsible lesions are in the small bowel. The most common cause is angiectasias. Capsule endoscopy provides direct noninvasive visualization of the small bowel, with a high diagnostic yield. Balloon enteroscopy offers the potential of examination and treatment of lesions previously detected by capsule endoscopy. Arteriography is useful in massive bleeding.