Endoscopic Coagulation for Gastrointestinal Bleeding

There is little argument that emergency operation for upper gastrointestinal nonvariceal hemorrhage is associated with a higher mortality than the same operation performed electively. Two controlled trials of elective treatment of duodenal ulcer show no operative mortality,^{1 , 2} whereas the mortality figures from some centers still approach 20 percent for emergency surgery for bleeding ulcer.³ It is therefore important that endoscopically applied techniques have the potential to stop bleeding from the lower esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. At best, the patient may not require subsequent invasive treatment; at worst, an indicated operation can be performed electively if the initial endoscopic approach is . . .