Endoscopic hemostasis by injection therapy and electro-hydro-coagulation in high-risk patients with active gastroduodenal bleeding ulcer.

For the purpose of arresting hemorrhage from bleeding gastric or duodenal ulcers we developed, in 28 high-risk patients, a new method of endoscopic local injection of epinephrine (1:10,000) followed by electro-hydro monopolar coagulation and injection of Polidocanol (1%). Nine patients had signs of shock at the time of admission. The average blood requirements were 3.9 units in the first 24 hours. All patients had important factors militating against surgery, namely age and serious primary disease. In 26 out of 28 patients (92.8%) hemostasis was accomplished during endoscopy. Three patients (10.7%) rebled within the first 36 hours, requiring emergency surgery. Thus definitive hemostasis was achieved in 23 patients (82.1%). There were no complications as a result of endoscopic treatment.