Patient with implanted heartmate 2 left ventricular assist device (lvad), with known driveline fracture, is admitted to the hospital due to the first event gastrointestinal bleeding (melena with anemia) in the setting of inr 1.
9 and aspirin 81 mg daily.
Inr allowed to drift.
Five units of transfused blood were required.
Endoscopic evaluation included egd (normal), colonoscopy (blood observed throughout the entire colon), and angiography (bleeding source not identified).
Decision regarding the continuation of coumadin/aspirin ongoing given this palliative patients burden of comorbidities.
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