NONBLEEDING VISIBLE VESSEL TREATMENT - PERENDOSCOPIC INJECTION THERAPY VERSUS OMEPRAZOLE INFUSION

Background: The non-bleeding visible vessel in a peptic ulcer is the highest risk factor for a bleeding recurrence among not actively bleeding lesions. Perendoscopic injection of sclerosing compounds is usually used as prophylaxis against rebleeding. Methods: Forty-two patients with visible vessels in a peptic ulcer al an emergency endoscopic procedure have been studied: 21 patients underwent prophylactic perendoscopic hemostasis, and 21 patients were infused with omeprazole intravenously. Results: Eight patients (19%), four in each group, had early rebleedings (within 48 h after the enrollment). There was no significant difference between the two types of treatment. At the endoscopic control after 48 h there were significantly more lesions with higher risk of rebleeding (Forrest IIa and IIb) in the group treated with perendoscopic hemostasis. Conclusions: Our data suggest that omeprazole infusion is a valid alternative to injection treatment of non-bleeding visible vessels.