Diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for small bowel vascular lesions

Figure 5 Therapeutic algorithm for small bowel vascular lesions. Note: ¹Pharmacological treatment is recommended for patients whom endoscopy is contraindicated. Meanwhile conservative approach with iron supplementation remains an option for patients with mild anemia; ²Subsequent pharmacological treatment after successful endoscopic treatment may be useful as an adjunct therapy, especially for patients with a high risk of re-bleeding; ³Arteriovenous malformation usually requires surgical resection because of their relatively large size and tendency to re-bleed. AE: Angioectasia; DL: Dieulafoy’s lesion; AVM: Arteriovenous malformation; APC: Argon plasm coagulation; OCT-LAR: Long-acting release octreotide.