Summary
The present prospective randomized trial has been carried out to assess the efficacy
of the endoscopic injection of epinephrine plus polidocanol, in the prompt treatment
of upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to peptic lesions.
Over a period of one year, 72 patients were admitted to the study. Thirty-six of these
underwent endoscopic treatment (group A), while the others received medical treatment
(group B). Definitive hemostasis was achieved in 29 patients in group A, and in 21
in group B (p < 0.05). Seven patients in group A and 12 in group B underwent emergency
surgery for persistent or recurrent bleeding (p = NS). Three patients from group B
received endoscopic treatment owing to relative surgical contraindications. It was
successful in all of them. Patients from group A needed a significantly lower number
of units of packed red cells (p < 0.05).
Our results show that it is justified to employ endoscopic injection as the first
therapeutic step in upper GI bleeding due to peptic gastroduoderal lesions.
Key words:
Endoscopic injection treatment - bleeding peptic ulcers
