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ENDOSCOPIC COAGULATION THERAPY IS USEFUL FOR IMPROVING ENCEPHALOPATHY IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS WITH GASTRIC ANTRAL VASCULAR ECTASIA
Author(s) -
Zushi Shinichiro,
Imai Yasuharu,
Fukuda Kazuto,
Yabuta Takamasa,
Tsujino Seiko,
Yamada Takuya,
Kurokawa Masanori
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
digestive endoscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.5
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1443-1661
pISSN - 0915-5635
DOI - 10.1111/j.1443-1661.2005.00426.x
Subject(s) - medicine , argon plasma coagulation , cirrhosis , gastric antral vascular ectasia , hepatic encephalopathy , gastroenterology , portal hypertension , encephalopathy , hemostasis , lesion , ectasia , surgery , endoscopy
Background: Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is an uncommon but treatable cause of chronic gastrointestinal bleeding often associated with severe cirrhosis. Efficacy of endoscopic treatment is well known; however, long‐term outcome after endoscopic treatment is not clear. Methods: We studied 16 cases of GAVE patients with liver cirrhosis that were endoscopically treated using heater probe unit or argon plasma coagulator. Endoscopic finding of GAVE and clinical finding of hepatic encephalopathy in particular was evaluated after endoscopic therapy. Results: After endoscopic ablation therapy, mucosal vascular lesion of GAVE and rebleeding occurred in four patients during follow up; however, re‐treatment was effective and long‐term hemostasis was achieved. Moreover, a case report herein revealed the effectiveness of endoscopic therapy on hepatic encephalopathy of GAVE patients with cirrhosis. In the follow‐up study of 13 patients of GAVE with cirrhosis that suffered from encephalopathy, the coma level of nine patients was improved after endoscopic therapy. Conclusion: Endoscopic treatment, such as heater probe coagulation and argon plasma coagulation therapy, are effective and useful for long‐term follow up. Also, the beneficial effect of endoscopic therapy on hepatic encephalopathy for GAVE with cirrhosis encourages us to find and treat the mucosal lesion intensively to improve the quality of life of such patients.