Endoscopic band ligation or urgent surgery both can be successful in the treatment of the watermelon stomach causing severe GI bleeding

Introduction: Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) so called watermelon stomach is characterized by mucosal and submucosal vascular ectasia causing recurrent GI hemorrhage. About a third of the cases are associated with portal hypertension. In majority of cases it can be presented as anemia due to occult blood loss, while massive GI bleeding is rare. GAVE can be treated with medical, endoscopic, and surgical approaches. Patients and methods: Last year we treated two patients with severe GI bleeding caused by GAVE. Case1. A 66 years old male with suspected portal hypertension was referred for iron deficiency an…