Small Intestinal Arteriovenous Malformation Treated by Double-balloon Endoscopy: A Case Report

Intern Med. 2023 Dec 18. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2588-23. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

A 42-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of anemia. The patient underwent gastroscopy and colonoscopy, but no bleeding site was detected. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed vascular dilatation along the wall of the small intestine. Small bowel capsule endoscopy and antegrade double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) were performed, and the patient was diagnosed with a small intestinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM). The AVM was clipped using DBE. After clipping, abdominal contrast-enhanced CT and small bowel angiography revealed the disappearance of the AVM. DBE may be a viable therapeutic option, helping avoid surgery and its associated risks.

Keywords: double-balloon endoscopy; small bowel capsule endoscopy; small intestinal arteriovenous malformation.