A case of rectal bleeding successfully treated by endoscopic band ligation

A man in his eighties on antiplatelet therapy was admitted to our hospital with hematochezia. He had undergone a transrectal prostatic biopsy 14 days earlier. Emergency colonoscopy showed hemorrhage and a massive clot in the rectum below the peritoneal reflection (2 cm oral to the anal verge) . Excessive pulsating bleeding from the anterior wall of the rectum was also observed. Endoscopic hemostasis with band ligation was accomplished successfully using an upper gastrointestinal endoscope. He could resume oral intake from Day 5 and was discharged from the hospital on Day 13. Rectal bleeding is recognized as one of the acute complications of transrectal prostatic biopsy; however, there is only one report of the late onset of bleeding in the Japanese literature from 2005-2012. Endoscopic hemostasis by clipping is commonly performed for rectal bleeding. However, our case suggests the effectiveness of endoscopic hemostasis with band ligation for the control of rectal bleeding.