Guitarist Pick for Melena: A Unique Case of an Upper GI Bleed

Tiffany  Lambrou; Vikas  Khullar; Devi  Rampertab; Roniel  Cabrera

doi:10.4236/ijcm.2017.88048

Tiffany Lambrou, Vikas Khullar, Devi Rampertab, Roniel Cabrera

Abstract: Gastrointestinal bleeds are a commonly observed complication after left ventricular assist device placement and usually caused by formation of arteriovenous malformations or acquired von Willebrand disease in the setting of anticoagulation use. We present a unique case of an upper GI bleed in which the cause was likely due to the impaction of a guitar pick into the duodenal bulb in the setting of continuous flow-LVAD on anticoagulation with elevated INR and discuss the pathophysiology of GI bleeds post-LVAD placement and relevant concerns about finding foreign bodies in the GI tract and their complications.

Keywords: Foreign Body, GI Bleed, Endoscopy, Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)

Cite this paper: Lambrou, T. , Khullar, V. , Rampertab, D. and Cabrera, R. (2017) Guitarist Pick for Melena: A Unique Case of an Upper GI Bleed. International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8, 514-518. doi: 10.4236/ijcm.2017.88048.

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