Would You Have Performed a Colonoscopy and Polypectomy in This High-risk Patient Following a Major GI Bleed?
Colon polyps discovered in a patient following a major lower GI bleed can give any gastroenterologist pause. This clinical case was especially concerning, as it involved a hospitalized 80-year-old male with significant comorbidities.
After a substantial loss of blood, the good news is that the bleeding was eventually resolved in this patient. But the other issue was the nagging knowledge that a subsequent colonoscopy, which could help uncover the source of the bleed, was also considered a high-risk procedure given the patient’s condition. However, Dr. Randall S. Meisner felt that sending this patient home with the advice to schedule a follow-up colonoscopy was an added inconvenience and cost to both the patient and the healthcare system.
“This case demonstrates the evolution of the management of colon polyps in the setting of lower GI bleeding,” states Dr. Meisner.
“How so?” you may ask. To find out, read about how Dr. Meisner addresses the substantial polyps he encounters, why he chose to use the Olympus® SnareMasterTM Plus Snare, and the technique he employed during the procedure.
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Randall S. Meisner, MD, is a paid consultant to Olympus Corporation, its affiliates, and/or its subsidiaries.
Do not use these instruments for any purpose other than their intended use as this could cause patient injury or damage to the instrument. Performing polypectomy within the GI tract is a technically demanding procedure and use of associated products such as the SnareMaster™ Plus electrosurgical snare may result in possible electrosurgical risks and patient injury to include, but are not limited to, infection, bleeding, perforation, and mucous membrane damage. When applied to a patient with a pacemaker implanted, the instrument or A cord may cause malfunctioning or failure of the pacemaker, seriously affecting the patient. Before proceeding, always confirm with a cardiologist or the manufacturer of the pacemaker that it is safe to proceed.
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