Abstract
Background and study aims Acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) due to peptic ulcer disease
(PUD) remains a common and challenging emergency managed by gastroenterologists. The
proper role of endoscopic suturing on the management of PUD-related UGIB is unknown.
Patients and methods This is an international case series of patients who underwent endoscopic suturing
for bleeding PUD. Primary outcome was rate of immediate hemostasis and rate of early
rebleeding (within 72 hours). Secondary outcomes included technical success, delayed
rebleeding (> 72 hours), and rate of adverse events (AEs).
Results Ten patients (mean age 66.7 years, 30 % female) were included in this study. Nine
(90 %) had prior failed endoscopy hemostasis with an average of 1.4 ± 0.7 (range 1 – 3)
prior endoscopic sessions. Forrest classification was Ib in 5 (50 %), IIa in 3 (30 %),
IIb in 1(10 %), and IIc in 1 (10 %). Mean suturing time was 13.4 ± 5.6 (range 3.5
to 20) minutes. Technical success was 100 %. Rate of immediate hemostasis was 100 %
and rate of early rebleeding was 0 %. Mean number of sutures was 1.5 (range, 1 – 4).
No AEs were observed. Delayed recurrent bleeding was not observed in any cases after
a median of 11 months (range 2 – 56), after endoscopic suturing.
Conclusions Oversewing of a bleeding or high-risk ulcer using endoscopic suturing appears to
be a safe and effective method for achieving endoscopic hemostasis. It may be considered
as rescue endoscopic therapy when primary endoscopic hemostasis fails to control the
bleeding or when hemorrhage recurs after successful control of bleeding.