Hemobilia: another complication associated with anti-thrombotic therapy

• Published in: Clinical journal of gastroenterology Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 49 - 51
• Main Authors: Hiramatsu, Yukiko, Watanabe, Tomohiro, Shiokawa, Masahiro, Kurita, Akira, Matsuura, Minoru, Uza, Norimitsu, Kodama, Yuzo, Chiba, Tsutomu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01.02.2011
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Case Report; Colorectal Surgery; Gastroenterology; Hepatology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Surgical Oncology; Anti-thrombotic therapy; Liver abscess; Hemobilia
• ISSN: 1865-7257; 1865-7265
• DOI: 10.1007/s12328-010-0198-1

It is generally accepted that anti-thrombotic therapy increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, and concurrent therapy with a proton-pump inhibitor is the standard treatment for patients receiving aspirin. Therefore, much attention has been paid to the prevention of gastrointestinal bleeding in such patients; however, it should be noted that patients on anti-thrombotic therapy always carry a risk of hemorrhage from any organ, including the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we present a case with formation of a common bile duct stone caused by hemobilia associated with anti-thrombotic therapy. This case suggests that we need to be aware of the possibility of intrabiliary hemorrhage as well as gastrointestinal bleeding in patients receiving anti-thrombotic therapy. Patients with such complications show a variety of symptoms including liver abscess, cholangitis, pancreatitis, and duodenal bleeding.