[Our experience with diathermy coagulation as a form of therapeutic endoscopy in acute upper digestive tract hemorrhages].

In addition to sclerosifying by use of fibroendoscope which acts upon the source of bleeding, to achieve hemostasis and prevent bleeding relapses nowadays other methods have also gained acceptance. Major importance among these is attached to diathermocoagulation. It may principally be assumed that diathermocoagulation is indicated for critically ill patients with serious accompanying diseases of primary or secondary importance, as well as in the event of persistent bleeding during the clinical examination and impending resumption of bleeding soon after the examination. Hemostasis by electrocoagulation should not be attempted in patients in agonal state when endoscopic examination is in its self dangerous. It is contraindicated also when the source of bleeding can not be established, in cases of severe arterial bleeding, blurring the optics, and in severe concave ulcers carrying the risk of perforation. The method was applied on 173 patients; in 96 (55 per cent) electrocoagulation was successful and in 78 (45 per cent) was unsuccessful. Electrocoagulation was considered a success in patients with acute ulcers and cardiovascular disease, in cases of large erosive units of drug origin, in posteriorly located gastric ulcers, in Mallory-Weiss syndrome and in gastric cancer.