ACUTE HEMORRHAGIC RECTAL ULCER: REPORT OF 6 CASES

Abstract

We experienced 6 cases of acute hemorrhagic rectal ulcer (AHRU) which caused sudden onset of fresh anal bleeding with neither abdominal pain nor anal pain. The patients were 3 males and 3 females. Of whom 5 were over seventy in age. The mean age was 68.3 years. All cases had severe underlying disorder (2 brain infarctions, one chronic bronchitis, one fever of unknown origin, one pancreatitis with pneumonia and one multiple organ failure) and our cases had no suspicion of stercoral ulcer. Hypovolemic shock due to massive anal bleeding occurred in 3 cases, 2 of which needed an electrocoagulation method using "Heater Probe" for endoscopic hemostasis. Endo-scopic findings indicated an irregularly shaped ulcer from 2 to 6 cm from the dentate line. One case had a solitary lesion and the others had multiple lesions.All cases healed within 58 days.