Endoscopic hemostasis of bleeding peptic ulcers: 1:10000 adrenalin injection vs. 1:10000 adrenalin +1% aethoxysclerol injection vs. heater probe.

To evaluate the efficacy of three endoscopic methods which utilize different mechanisms of hemostasis to control bleeding peptic ulcers, we performed a prospective randomized study in 83 patients. Thirty-two patients were treated with 1:10000 adrenalin (Group I), 29 patients with 1:10000 adrenalin +1% aethoxysclerol (Group II), and 22 patients with the heater probe (Group III). Gastric ulcers were the source of bleeding in 14, 15 and 12 patients while duodenal ulcers were the source in 16, 13 and 10 patients in Groups I, II and III, respectively. Two stomal ulcers were noted in Group I and 1 in Group II. Two spurters were treated in Group I and 4 in Group II, while 22, 13 and 10 oozers were treated in Groups I, II and III, respectively. Definitive hemostasis was achieved in 94%, 100% and 95% in Groups I, II and III, respectively while the rebleeding rate was 6.25%, 6.9% and 9% respectively. 1:10000 adrenalin injection alone or when combined with subsequent instillation of a sclerosing agent and heater probe application have comparable efficacy in the endoscopic control of bleeding peptic ulcers.