A 38-year-old male with no past history of illnesses visited the out-patient clinic of Nerima Hikarigaoka Hospital complaining of dizziness and persistent anal bleeding. There was a significant anemia on a blood test and colonoscopy showed a thrombus in a markedly swollen internal hemorrhoid. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a poorly demarcated area with early face enhancement on the right side of the rectum and anal canal. Based on these findings, an arterio-venous malformation (AVM) of the rectum was suspected. Abdominal angiography showed abnormal vessels receiving a blood supply from the bilateral superior rectal arteries. We suspected that the AVM in the rectum was the cause of the hemorrhage from the internal hemorrhoid, and therefore performed embolization of the AVM. Thereafter, the hemorrhage from the internal hemorrhoid stopped completely and the anemia improved to the normal level, without the need for treatment for the internal hemorrhoid. Colonoscopy performed 6 months after embolization showed shrinkage of the internal hemorrhoid. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports stating a relationship between rectal AVM and internal hemorrhoids. However, we consider that contrast-enhanced CT can be used to detect vessel abnormalities related to severe bleeding of the internal hermorrhoids in patients with internal hemorrhoids and severe anemia.

Spontaneous bile duct rupture is a rare condition in adults, with only 70 cases reported. Increased bile duct wall pressure may lead to rupture and biliary peritonitis. In this patient, the bile duct ruptured in the hepatic left triangular ligament. A 91-year-old man underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for choledocholithiasis and endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) placement. One week later, removal of the ERBD and common bile duct stones and an endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) were performed. Four days later, the patient had abdominal pain, increased inflammatory reaction, and jaundice. Abdominal computed tomography showed ascites, bile duct dilatation and fluid collection under the liver (10 cm in diameter). Emergency surgery was performed to drain the fluid. On laparotomy, encapsulated biliary ascites was seen. To search for the site of the leak, after cholecystectomy, a tube (C-tube) was inserted into the common bile duct via cystic duct stump. Because of uncontrollable bleeding, after packing with surgical gauze, the operation was temporarily stopped. The next day, reoperation was performed. Intraoperative cholangiography with contrast dye revealed the perforation site in the left triangular ligament and a partial resection was performed. Bile excretion from the C-tube was subsequently observed, but the patient’s jaundice did not improve. Although endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed that the EST site was normal, ERBD was placed again, and the jaundice gradually improved. Although EST was performed in this case, biliary peritonitis resulting from spontaneous bile duct rupture occurred. This case was very informative because biliary perforation may occur even after EST.

Objection: The elderly population, which carries an increased risk of postoperative complications, is increasing in size. "Frailty" is a new concept for assessing the surgical risk in elderly patients. We analyzed the usefulness of assessing frailty for predicting postoperative complications in patients ≥ 60 years of age undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. Methods: We conducted this prospective evaluation in 65 colorectal cancer patients ≥ 60 years of age who were underwent surgery for colorectal cancer. As relatively simple tools to predict the risk of postoperative complications, we evaluated the performance status, Barthel index, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, prognostic nutritional index and frailty. We also recorded the incidence of Grade ≥Ⅱ postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification. Results: A bivariate analysis showed that frailty was significantly associated with the risk of postoperative complications (p = 0.049). A multivariate analysis also identified frailty as being significantly associated with the risk of postoperative complications (p < 0.030). Conclusion: Assessment of frailty may be a useful tool for predicting the risk of postoperative complications in patients aged ≥ 60 years old.

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