ENDOSCOPIC INJECTION TREATMENT OF BLEEDING PEPTIC ULCER

BACKGROUND: Objectives were two. (1) to determine theefficiency of the endoscopic injection therapy (EIT) in patients suffering from bleeding caused by peptic ulcer disease with high risk of recurrence, and (2) to recognize clinical and endoscopical risk factors that influence recurrence of hemorrhage and mortality from this pathology. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that included 121 patients, who were admitted by a unit specialized in managing gastrointestinal hemorrhage owing to peptic ulcer with active bleeding or non-bleeding visible vessel, and who underwent EIT with epinephrine between March, 1994 and February, 1996.RESULTS: Initial success was achieved in 119 patients who underwent EIT (99,1%). Bleeding persisted in one patient (0,9%), and in another one, EIT was not sucessful because of inaccessible location. Definite hemostasis was achieved in 93 patients (77,5%) and there was recurrence in 28 cases (23,5%). Twenty-six patients underwent surgical therapy (21,5%). The univariable analysis showed that hemorrhage recurrence was related to the presence of shock (p = 0,002), hematemesis (p = 0,2), age over 60 (p = 0,009), number of blood units transfused (p = 0,00000) and ulcer diameter larger than 2 cm (p = 0,018). The global mortality in our patients was of 10%, and surgical mortality was of 34,6%. Factors significantly related to mortality were hemorrhage recurrence (p = 0,000003), presence of concomitant disease (p = 0,05), and presence of gastric ulcer (p = 0,021), in addition to age (over 60), presence of shock and ulcer diameter larger than 2 cm (p = 0,05).CONCLUSION: EIT is a valuable procedure for the treatment of hemorrhage caused by peptic ulcer with high risk of recurrence (active hemorrhage or visible vessel), with a definite hemostasis of 77,5%. The presence of shock, hematemesis, age over 60, transfusion requirements of more than 3 blood units, and ulcer diameter of more than 2 cm are factors that increase the probability of hemorrhage recurrence after EIT. Mortality is significantly related to the presence of hemorrhage recurrence, concomitant diseases and gastric ulcer in addition to clinical and endoscopical factors mentioned above, with the exception of hematemesis and transfusion requirement. A prompt surgery after detection of a major bleeding recurrence in patients with the risk factor already described and a coordinate action with a surgery team experienced in digestive hemorrhage would influence favorably the mortality rate of this disease.