Abstract | BACKGROUND: Despite different forms of treatment, few studies have been performed on the outcome and prognosis of patients admitted to the hospital because of gastric vascular ectasia (GVE) and upper-GI bleeding (UGIB). There is also little knowledge on the efficacy of argon plasma coagulation (APC) in different subgroups of GVE lesions. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of APC in patients admitted to the hospital with UGIB because of GVE. DESIGN: Prospective evaluation of consecutive cases of UGIB because of GVE. SETTING: Tertiary and university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Twenty-nine patients were included and divided into 3 subgroups: focal vascular ectasia lesions (FVE) (n = 10), portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) (n = 11), and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) (n = 8). Patients were followed at 3 months and every 6 months thereafter during a mean of 23.1 months (range 18-37 months). All patients received intensive APC treatment that was repeated, depending on the endoscopic appearance or clinical evaluation. RESULTS: The overall success of APC treatment was 86%, with only one recurrence of UGIB during the follow-up period. The number of APC sessions was 1.2, 2.2, and 2.3, in each subgroup (not significant), with a total number of sessions of 1.9 +/- 1.3. Treatment success was 90% in the FVE group, 81% in the PHG group, and 87.5% in the GAVE group (NS). The rise in hematocrit from baseline values in the overall group and in each subgroup was significant (P > .01). LIMITATIONS: A single-center study and small sample. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic thermal ablation with APC is effective in managing UGIB and in reducing transfusion requirements in patients admitted for GI hemorrhage because of different endoscopic types of GVE.
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Authors | Samuel Herrera, Josep M Bordas, Josep Llach, Angels Ginès, Maria Pellisé, Glòria Fernández-Esparrach, Fernando Mondelo, Alfredo Mata, Andres Cárdenas, Antoni Castells |
Journal | Gastrointestinal endoscopy
(Gastrointest Endosc)
Vol. 68
Issue 3
Pg. 440-6
(Sep 2008)
ISSN: 1097-6779 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 18423466
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Evaluation Study, Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Acute Disease
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Argon
(therapeutic use)
- Education, Medical, Continuing
- Emergency Service, Hospital
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia
(complications, pathology, surgery)
- Gastric Mucosa
(pathology)
- Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
(etiology, pathology, surgery)
- Gastroscopy
- Humans
- Laser Coagulation
(adverse effects, methods)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Probability
- Prospective Studies
- Risk Assessment
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Severity of Illness Index
- Spain
- Treatment Outcome
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