Open AccessA novel endoscopic ablation of gastric antral vascular ectasia
Author(s) -
Masae Komiyama,
K. H. Fu,
Takashi Morimoto,
Hironori Konuma,
Toshifumi Yamagata,
Yuko Izumi,
Akira Miyazaki,
Sumio Watanabe
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
world journal of gastrointestinal endoscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1948-5190
DOI - 10.4253/wjge.v2.i8.298
Subject(s) - argon plasma coagulation , medicine , gastric antral vascular ectasia , forceps , surgery , ectasia , iron deficiency anemia , anemia , ablation , endoscopy , melena , gastrointestinal bleeding , abdominal distension , gastroenterology
An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of tarry stool with iron deficiency anemia. Her past history included autoimmune hepatitis. Esophagogastroduodenal endoscopy was performed to investigate the bleeding source and revealed multiple linear gastric vascular malformations in the antrum and cardia, compatible with Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE). Endoscopic ablation was carried out with the tip of the hot biopsy forceps without opening at soft coagulation mode of 80W. The patient tolerated the procedure well and there were no complications associated with endoscopic therapies. After two sessions of endoscopic ablation her anemia improved to around 10 g/dL, an increase of 3.6 g/dL. Various endoscopic treatments have been described to manage GAVE. The most popular is argon plasma coagulation (APC), although APC is associated with over-distension induced by the argon plasma gas. To avoid over-distension and to reduce the abdominal discomfort/pain of this patient, we have used hot biopsy forceps instead of APC. Our case suggests that this procedure is effective, easy and convenient, as no special equipment or skill is necessary.