Gastric Outlet Obstruction Caused by a Duodenal Clot

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a mechanical obstruction usually located in the gastric pylorus or duodenum. After the introduction of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the late 1980s, most cases of gastric outlet obstruction are now caused by malignancy and peptic ulcer disease rarely leads to obstruction. We present a case of GOO caused by a large clot in the pylorus, preventing visualization of the source of bleeding. As the removal of the obstructing clot was deemed too high risk, the patient was treated with promotility agents that relieved the obstruction and allowed for the identification of the etiology of his upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Bleeding was definitively managed with embolization of the gastroduodenal artery.