Endoscopic haemostasis of lower gastrointestinal bleeding from an ileocolonic anastomosis constructed using a biofragmentable anastomotic ring.

We describe a case of endoscopically treated severe occult acute and chronic bleeding from an ileocolonic anastomosis constructed using a biofragmentable anastomotic ring (BAR). A 28-year-old white woman presented with two episodes of melaena, a 6-month history of chronic iron-deficiency anaemia and weight loss. An initial oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy failed to reveal the cause of bleeding, whereas a second colonoscopy demonstrated bleeding from the site of the BAR ileocolonic anastomosis. Endoscopic haemostasis was successfully achieved by means of an argon-plasma coagulator.