Endoscopic band ligation therapy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding related to Mallory-Weiss syndrome.
BACKGROUND
No consensus exists as to the best endoscopic treatment for Mallory-Weiss syndrome. Endoscopic band ligation is a readily available and easily learned technique. This prospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic band ligation therapy for Mallory-Weiss syndrome.


METHODS
From August 1998 to June 2005, a clinical trial assessed 37 patients with a diagnosis of Mallory-Weiss syndrome who had active bleeding, exposed vessels, or both. Their lesions were treated using endoscopic band ligation.


RESULTS
Endoscopic band ligation was successful in 36 of 37 cases, with a follow-up period ranging from 1 to 24 months. The remaining patient had severe liver failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The patient bled again at 12 h and subsequently died. Except for this case, no recurrent bleeding, perforation, or other complications occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results suggest that endoscopic band ligation is an effective, safe, and easily learned procedure for treating upper gastrointestinal bleeding related to Mallory-Weiss syndrome.
Higuchi
N
N
Department of Gastroenterology, Aso Iizuka Hospital, 3-83 Yoshio, Iizuka, Fukuoka, 820-8505, Japan.
Akahoshi
K
K
Sumida
Y
Y
Kubokawa
M
M
Motomura
Y
Y
Kimura
M
M
Matsumoto
M
M
Nakamura
K
K
Nawata
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000150:complications; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008309:Mallory-Weiss Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome