A case of esophagogastric submucosal hematoma with hemorrhagic shock

A 70-year-old woman had been taking steroids for granulomatosis with polyangiitis since the age of 60 years and warfarin for deep vein thrombosis since the age of 63 years. She was admitted to the emergency unit of our hospital in a shock vital with complaints of sudden onset of epigastralgia, nausea, and melena. Laboratory data revealed anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and coagulation disorders. Enhanced computed tomography demonstrated extravasation in the middle part of the gastric body in an extensive submucosal hematoma extending from the upper esophagus to the entire gastric body. Emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy depicted a large submucosal hematoma and a large amount of fresh blood in the stomach; however, active bleeding was not identified. Two sessions of interventional radiology treatment in the emergency department, followed by an intensive care, successfully treated the patient without any complications. We report a unique case of a sudden-onset esophagogastric submucosal hematoma with hemorrhagic shock requiring an intensive care and interventional radiology treatment. In this case, the extensive warfarization and the fragility in vascular and connective tissue components in the submucosa due to the long-term steroid therapy and the granulomatosis with polyangiitis-related alteration might comprehensively cause severe esophagogastric submucosal hematoma even without any apparent triggers.