Endoscopic band ligation for control of acute peptic ulcer bleeding.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

The use of endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is being extended to treat various causes of upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of EBL for control of acute peptic ulcer bleeding and to define the lesions that are most suitable for this technique.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

19 patients with major stigmata of acute peptic ulcer bleeding were treated using EBL; 11 patients had active bleeding and eight patients had a nonbleeding visible vessel.

RESULTS

The site of acute peptic ulcer bleeding was the stomach in 12 patients, the duodenum in four patients, and Billroth II anastomosis in three. Initial hemostasis was achieved in 19 patients (100 %) in a single session. There were no rebleeding episodes in any of the patients, and there was no bleeding-related or procedure-related death. During long-term outpatient follow-up, bleeding did not recur.

CONCLUSIONS

EBL is an effective and safe endoscopic treatment for small-sized nonfibrotic acute peptic ulcer bleeding. Larger studies in patients with acute peptic ulcer bleeding are needed to confirm these promising results.