Endoscopic injection therapy of bleeding Dieulafoy lesion of the stomach.
OBJECTIVE
Dieulafoy's lesion is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and is potentially life threatening. The aim of this study is to determine the clinical features of these lesions and the efficacy of the endoscopic injection sclerotherapy in patients with Dieulafoy's lesion.


METHODS
Between January 1994 and December 2001, twenty-eight patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to Dieulafoy's lesion were treated by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy. Efficacy of endoscopic therapy and clinical findings of these cases were analyzed.


RESULTS
The study group consisted of 22 male (78.5%) and 6 female (21.5%) patients with a mean age of 57 years (range 22-82 years). Significant comorbidity was present in 22 (78.5%) patients. Hemoglobin values of the patients ranged from 5.4-10.3 g/dL at hospitalization. The median transfusion requirement was 5 (range 0-12) units. Dieulafoy's lesion was observed in the proximal half of stomach in 25 cases (89.3%), in the antrum in 2 cases (7.1%) and in the angulus in 1 case (3.5%). Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy was successful in stopping the bleeding in 26 out of 28 patients (92.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Dieulafoy's lesions mostly affect the proximal stomach and cause serious upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy is an effective and a safe therapeutic method for Dieulafoy's lesion.
Yilmaz
Mustafa
M
Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. kmustyil@yahoo.com
Ozütemiz
Omer
O
Karasu
Zeki
Z
Ersöz
Galip
G
Günsar
Fulya
F
Batur
Yücel
Y
Aydin
Ahmet
A
Tekesin
Oktay
O
Yönetci
Nadir
N
Ilter
Tankut
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000628:therapy*