Endoscopic band ligation of Dieulafoy-like lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
OBJECTIVE
Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is currently considered to be the treatment of choice for esophageal variceal bleeding. This study reports on the efficacy and safety of EBL in patients with Dieulafoy-like bleeding lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract.


METHODS
Between December 1994 and February 2000, 23 patients with upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage (median age 58, range 28-75) were treated using EBL. EBL was used as a rescue therapy in four patients and as the initial treatment in 19 patients.


RESULTS
The site of bleeding was the stomach in 10 patients, Billroth II anastomosis in 10, the first part of the duodenum in one, the second part of the duodenum in one, and the jejunum in one patient. Endoscopic band ligation was successful in 22 of the 23 patients. The remaining patient, a young man with a Dieulafoy-like lesion in the jejunum, had recurrent bleeding on day 5 after EBL and underwent elective surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic band ligation is an effective and safe endoscopic treatment for Dieulafoy-like lesions. It is easy to use and relatively inexpensive.
Nikolaidis
N
N
Division of Gastroenterology, Second Dept. of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. niknik@med.auth.gr
Zezos
P
P
Giouleme
O
O
Budas
K
K
Marakis
G
G
Paroutoglou
G
G
Eugenidis
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004064:Digestive System / Q000473:pathology*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004912:Erythrocytes; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000601:surgery*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016558:Hemostasis, Endoscopic / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged