title: Randomized comparison of Nd YAG laser, heater probe, and no endoscopic therapy for bleeding peptic ulcers.
abstract: Of 550 patients admitted with acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, 143 with peptic ulcers containing stigmata of recent hemorrhage accessible to endoscopic therapy were included in a randomized comparison of neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet laser, heater probe, and no endoscopic therapy. The rebleeding rate in laser-treated patients (20%) was significantly less than in controls (42%; p less than 0.05), but in heater probe-treated patients (28%) it was not significantly different from either of the other two groups. The mortality rate in the laser group (2%) was not significantly different from either the heater probe (10%) or the control (9%) group. This trial has confirmed the efficacy of the Nd YAG laser but not that of the heater probe in the prevention of rebleeding from recently bleeding peptic ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Norman Tanner Gastroenterology Unit, St. James' Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matthewson
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Swain
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bland
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kirkham
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Bown
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Northfield
mesh_terms: D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D004384:Duodenoscopy; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004630:Emergencies; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008028:Light Coagulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery