Therapeutic endoscopy has been used successfully, and is now the modality of choice for the initial treatment of Dieulafoy lesions.51 Endoscopic modalities used include bipolar electrocoagulation, monopolar electrocoagulation, injection sclerotherapy, heater probe, laser photocoagulation, epinephrine injection, haemoclipping and banding.51 The injection of epinephrine has been used in combination with other modalities, as a means to slow or stop bleeding and allow better visualisation of the lesion and successful treat-ment.53 The specific therapeutic modality used seems to depend on the availability and personal experience with a particular technique. Endoscopic therapy is said to be successful in achieving permanent haemostasis in 85% of cases. Of the remaining 15% in whom re-bleeding occurs, 10% can successfully be treated by repeat endoscopic therapy and 5% may ultimately require surgical intervention19 Other studies have reported a higher success rate with endoscopic treat-ment, and significant decline of the need for laparotomy for both diagnosis and treatment.11,51 It must be emphasised, however, that an experienced endoscopist and a reasonable selection of therapeutic instruments are essential to achieve a high success rate. A Dieulafoy lesion can easily be over-looked, as concomitant lesions such as ulcers or varices, may wrongly be considered responsible for the bleeding episode.11 Angiography may also be used therapeutically by gelfaom embolisation.42,45 This type of treatment is usually reserved for patients who are not amenable to endoscopic therapy and are poor surgical candidates, if bleeding is still active.20
In the pre-endoscopic era, surgery was the only treatment available.8 After a gastrotomy and identification of the lesion, it can be dealt with by ligation of the bleeding vessel, proximal gastric resection, or a large wedge resection. If the bleeding is not found at gastrotomy, neither blind resection nor vagotomy should be performed, because recurrent postoperative bleeding is likely to occur from the proximal portion of the stomach.8,20
In duodenal and proximal jejunal lesions, surgical exploration with intra-operative endoscopy can achieve excellent results and avoid unnecessary bowel resection. This technique combines the advantages of endoscopic visualisation with open surgical suture ligation.50
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