Emergency endoscopy saves patient from life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding post heart attack

A 65-year-old patient suffered a life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding episode during coronary angiography after a heart attack. Doctors at Evercare Hospital Dhaka successfully saved his life through emergency endoscopic intervention.

The incident occurred inside the cardiac cath lab while the patient was undergoing coronary angiography. Before stenting could begin, he suddenly began vomiting large amounts of blood. His condition quickly deteriorated, prompting an immediate transfer to the CCU and a call for the endoscopy team.

Dr Iqbal Musharred Kabir, Senior Consultant, Gastrointestinal, Liver Diseases & Medicine, said that upon arrival, the team initiated emergency endoscopy. They observed massive bleeding, posing a high risk of blood entering the airway. A cardiac anesthetist promptly performed endotracheal intubation to secure the airway.

With the airway protected, the endoscopy team carefully suctioned and cleared the blood to locate the source. A deep linear tear at the lower end of the esophagus was found actively bleeding. Without delay, four metallic clips were applied directly to the wound, successfully stopping the hemorrhage.

The next day, the breathing tube was safely removed. Three days later, a follow-up endoscopy allowed the placement of an additional clip to ensure complete healing. The patient made a full recovery and was discharged.

Dr Kabir remarked, "Thanks to Evercare Hospital’s advanced technology, rapid response, and excellent teamwork, we were able to save this patient’s life. Such complex endoscopic interventions are usually seen in top centers of the developed world. Timely decision-making was critical here."