Olympus EndoTherapy Gastrointestinal Bleeding Procedure

Overview

GI bleeding can occur from a disease state, trauma, or endoscopic procedure, and results in approximately 100,000 hospitalizations every year in the U.S. Although there are many effective methods of treatment, the mortality rate is 6-10 percent. Incidence of GI bleeding is two times greater in males than females with no difference in the mortality rate between the sexes. GI bleeding can occur in any part of the GI tract and may require immediate attention for hemostasis (stoppage of bleeding).²

Symptoms of GI Bleeding

Upper GI bleeding (occurs above the ligament of Treitz) can result from:²

• Peptic ulcer disease (35-50 percent)
• Gastroduodenal erosions (8-15 percent)
• Esophagitis (5-15 percent)–commonly GERD, infection, caustic ingestion, or radiation
• Varices (5-10 percent)
• Mallory-Weiss tear (15 percent)–bleeding is generally self-limited; however, uncontrolled bleeding may require angiographic therapy or surgery
• Vascular malformations (5 percent)–sporadic lesions or in association with other disorders such as cirrhosis, renal failure, Dieulafoy’s lesion, etc.

Common causes for lower GI bleeding are²:

• Diverticulosis (29.6 percent)
• Angiodysplasia
• Hemorrhoids (14 percent)
• Colonic neoplasia/malignancy (6.2 percent)
• Colitis [radiation/ischemic/ulcerative] (20.5 percent)
• Intussusceptions [part of the intestine slides into another part]
• Varices

Location	Symptoms	Possible Cause
Esophagus	Vomiting bright red (blood) or coffee-ground-like material, black stools	Ulcer, varices, liver disease
Stomach	Vomiting bright red (blood) or coffee-ground-like material, black stools	Ulcer, gastritis, varices, Dieulafoy’s lesion
Small intestine	Bright red/maroon bleeding	Ulcer, AVMS, tumor, Crohn’s disease
Large intestine	Blood in the stool	Colon cancer, polyps, colitis, AVMS, diverticula, IBD
Rectum	Bright red bleeding	Hemorrhoids, IBD

Treatment

Various methods exist to provide hemostasis including

• Injection therapy
• Mechanical
• Thermal
• Combination of methods

Products Available

• Clip Fixing Devices
• Detachable Loop Ligating Device
• Injection Needles
• Hemostatic Grasper
• Bipolar Hemostasis Probe

²Kovacs, Thomas, MD. "Non-Variceal UGI Bleeding, When and How with What Results". CURE Hemostasis Studies, UCLA and WLA VA Medical Centers, Feb. 29, 2004.

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To order endoscopic devices or request an in-person demonstration, contact an Olympus Endoscopy Account Manager or call 800-848-9024.