Standard Endoscopic Hemostasis Versus OVESCO Severe Non-variceal UGI Hemorrhage

Upper GI Hemorrhage (UGIH) causes significant morbidity and mortality, although endoscopic hemostasis has revolutionized management of these patients. Despite standard endoscopic treatment and high dose proton pump infusions, 25% - 30% of high risk patients with UGIB from ulcers or other non-variceal UGI lesions (NVUGI) had recurrent bleeding in a recent RCT and cohort studies by our group. Potential risk factors for NVUGI rebleeding were large ulcers (≥ 15 mm), fibrotic bases, Dieulafoy's lesions, anastomotic ulcers, coagulopathies, cirrhosis, other severe co-morbidities and residual arterial blood flow under stigmata of recent hemorrhage (SRH) after endoscopic treatment. Such patients with rebleeding after standard endoscopic hemostasis usually required angiography (by interventional radiologists-IR) or surgery for definitive hemostasis. A new, large, FDA approved, over-the-scope hemoclipping device (OTSC® System OVESCO Endoscopy, Tübingen, Germany) can capture larger amounts of tissue and underlying arteries than standard hemoclips and potentially can improve endoscopic hemostasis of such bleeding lesions.