Endoscopic Injection of Absolute Ethanol Achieves Ultimate Hemostasis in Bleeding Caused by Peptic Ulcers

Abstract

This study was performed to assess the efficacy of endoscopic injection therapy with absolute ethanol to prevent emergency surgery and recurrent bleeding in patients with peptic ulcers. We compared two different treatment protocols of peptic ulcers with active bleeding or with visible vessels on the ulcer bed. In group I (1981–1984, control group), 45 patients underwent emergency endoscopy with spraying 0.1% epinephrine and thrombin, but no other endoscopic hemostatic procedure. In group II (1989–1992, experimental group), we performed endoscopic injection therapy with absolute ethanol for peptic ulcers in 46 patients. The background characteristics of the patients were not different in the two groups. The rate of successful initial hemostasis tended to be greater in the ethanol injection group compared with the control group without significance. The ultimate hemostatic rate in the ethanol injection group was markedly and significantly greater compared to the control group (P<0.05). Ultimate hemostasis by ethanol injection was performed effectively in peptic ulcers with spurting and oozing hemorrhage and in the non-bleeding peptic ulcers with visible vessels at the initial endoscopy (P<0.05 for each). These results indicate that ethanol injection therapy by endoscopy achieves ultimate hemostasis and prevents emergency surgery due to hemorrhage from peptic ulcers. (Dig Endoc 1994; 6 : 34–38)