• Sung Kyun Yim, Chang Hun Lee, Seong-Hun Kim, Sang Wook Kim, and Seung Young Seo.
• Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Mar 31; 102 (13): e33411e33411.

RationaleAcute hemorrhagic rectal ulcer (AHRU) is a relatively rare condition characterized by sudden onset, painlessness, and massive hematochezia in patients with severe underlying conditions. When AHRU is encountered, they can often be successfully controlled endoscopically, though recurrent bleeding is common and an alternative treatment must be sought if initial endoscopic treatment fails. We report 2 cases of AHRU which were successfully treated with Vaseline gauze packing after the failure of endoscopic hemostasis.Patient ConcernsThe first patient was an 88-year-old female that visited our emergency department with hematochezia. She was immobilized because of a left pelvic bone fracture resulting from a slip-down. The initial endoscopy showed fresh blood in her rectum with diffuse ulceration near the dentate line but no active bleeding. However, Massive hematochezia has recurred during conservation. A second patient, an 86-year-old female, debilitated because of schizophrenia, dementia, and past subdural hemorrhage, visited our emergency department, also with massive hematochezia. Her initial endoscopy showed deep ulceration near the dentate line. After admission, she experienced massive hematochezia from an AHRU with an exposed vessel but endoscopic hemostasis failed to control bleeding.DiagnosesBoth patients were diagnosed as AHRU based on the endoscopic findings.InterventionsIn both cases, Vaseline gauze packing was performed for bleeding control.OutcomesAfter Vaseline gauze packing, no further bleeding occurred and follow-up endoscopy showed definitive improvement of ulcers.LessonsBased on these cases, we suggest that Vaseline gauze packing may be the alternative treatment for the AHRU which is located near the dentate line when endoscopic hemostasis is difficult or failed. Although further research is needed, Vaseline gauze packing has several potential advantages for the treatment of AHRU, especially in cases involving critically ill elderly patients.Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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