NONBLEEDING VISIBLE VESSEL TREATMENT - PERENDOSCOPIC INJECTION THERAPY VERSUS OMEPRAZOLE INFUSION

Background: The non-bleeding visible vessel in a peptic ulcer is the h ighest risk factor for a bleeding recurrence among not actively bleedi ng lesions. Perendoscopic injection of sclerosing compounds is usually used as prophylaxis against rebleeding. Methods: Forty-two patients w ith visible vessels in a peptic ulcer al an emergency endoscopic proce dure have been studied: 21 patients underwent prophylactic perendoscop ic hemostasis, and 21 patients were infused with omeprazole intravenou sly. Results: Eight patients (19%), four in each group, had early rebl eedings (within 48 h after the enrollment). There was no significant d ifference between the two types of treatment. At the endoscopic contro l after 48 h there were significantly more lesions with higher risk of rebleeding (Forrest IIa and IIb) in the group treated with perendosco pic hemostasis. Conclusions: Our data suggest that omeprazole infusion is a valid alternative to injection treatment of non-bleeding visible vessels.