Electrocoagulation of actively bleeding Mallory-Weiss tears.

Thirty patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to a Mallory-Weiss tear were diagnosed by endoscopy. Seventeen patients had stopped bleeding spontaneously, and 13 were actively bleeding when examined. Ten of these 13 were successfully electrocoagulated with cessation of bleeding without morbidity or mortality. Total cost and length of hospitalization were approximately one-third for those treated by electrocoagulation as compared to surgery. Endoscopic electrocoagulation of actively bleeding Mallory-Weiss tears is often successful and appears to be safe.