Acute Hemorrhagic Necrosis of the Gastrointestinal Tract

MASSIVE gastrointestinal bleeding has always been a serious diagnostic and therapeutic problem. The problem is even greater when the bleeding occurs in an old person who may simultaneously exhibit a multitude of serious organic disturbances interfering with proper investigation. In 1954 Wilson and Qualheim1 described a form of acute hemorrhagic enterocolitis in 20 chronically ill patients, many of whom presented massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Some underwent unnecessary surgical exploration because of an erroneous diagnosis. This condition has not been generally recognized, and not mentioned in the extensive review of the causes of the gastrointestinal hemorrhage by Brick and Jeghers.2 Kane et . . .