Electrocoagulation of Bleeding in the Upper Part of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

Electrocoagulation of gastric or esophageal bleeding sites was evaluated in dogs using a flexible suction coagulator electrode passed through the endoscope using an electrocautery unit (Cameron-Miller model 80-7910). Acute and chronic coagulation studies in 25 dogs showed that electrocoagulation of both the esophageal and gastric mucosa was safe at an electrocautery unit setting of 5 for three to five seconds. This level of coagulation was successful in stopping bleeding created from actively bleeding esophageal and gastric mucosal defects by taking multiple large biopsy specimens. Based on these data, six patients with active bleeding gastric lesions have undergone mucosal coagulation. This successfully stopped the bleeding initially in all six patients; two patients rebled and required operative intervention within 48 hours. Further clinical evaluation is being implemented to determine its clinical role in the treatment of bleeding in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract.