Active Arterial Mid-Gut Bleeding Identified in the Prehospital Setting: A Case Enabling Timely Specialized Management
Nathanja VAN MOPPES and Bahar GOLCHEHR
A 71-year-old woman with a history of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding developed sudden epigastric pain followed by multiple episodes of coffee-ground vomiting, hematochezia, and a syncopal episode at home. Prehospital emergency services found her pale and hypotensive (85/55 mmHg) and initiated early management with IV access, crystalloid infusion and intravenous omeprazole, achieving initial hemodynamic stabilization. The rapid identification of a probable mid-gut hemorrhage and timely prehospital treatment allowed safe transfer for further evaluation.Clinical data were collected through direct prehospital assessment, emergency department evaluation, and review of electronic medical records. Hemodynamic parameters, laboratory values, and imaging findings were analyzed to characterize the severity and progression of the gastrointestinal bleeding. Management followed local emergency protocols for hemorrhagic shock and gastrointestinal bleeding, integrating prehospital stabilization, early pharmacologic therapy, and multidisciplinary communication.This case is original because it highlights the crucial role of primary care and prehospital emergency teams in identifying and stabilizing an uncommon but severe mid-gut arterial bleed. The rapid recognition of hemodynamic compromise at home, combined with early activation of diagnostic pathways and coordination with referral centers in a rural setting lacking interventional Radiology.Mid-gut bleeding is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening cause of acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Early recognition in primary and prehospital care is crucial to avoid delays in diagnosis and transfer to specialized centers, particularly in settings without local interventional radiology.This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of mid-gut bleeding and the essential role of prehospital evaluation in hemodynamic stabilization and early suspicion of distal small-bowel hemorrhage. Rapid collaboration among primary care emergency teams, radiology, gastroenterology, and intensive care enabled timely transfer despite the absence of on-site interventional radiology.Early recognition and coordinated management of active mid-gut bleeding in the prehospital and emergency setting can significantly reduce delays to definitive care and improve patient outcomes, particularly in rural or resource-limited areas.
