Endoscopic band ligation for the treatment of rectal Dieulafoy lesions: risks and disadvantages

Rectal Dieulafoy's lesion: a comprehensive review of patient characteristics, presentation patterns, diagnosis, management, and clinical outcomes

Dieulafoy's lesion is an abnormally large, tortuous, submucosal vessel that erodes the overlying mucosa, without primary ulceration or erosion. Although these lesions predominantly involve the stomach and upper small intestine, they are being detected with increasing frequency in the rectum. We conducted a systematic literature search of MEDLINE, Cochrane, Embase, and Scopus databases for adult rectal Dieulafoy's lesion. After careful review of the search results, a total of 101 cases were identified. The data on patient characteristics, clinical features, colonoscopy findings, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical outcomes were collected and analyzed. The mean age of presentation was 66±17 years (range, 18-94 years), with 54% of cases reported in males. Clinical presentation was dominated by acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the form of bright-red blood per rectum 47% and hematochezia 36%, whereas 16% of patients were admitted with symptoms related to other medical conditions. Major underlying disorders were hypertension 29%, diabetes mellitus 21%, and chronic kidney disease 16%. The average number of colonoscopies required for the diagnosis of rectal Dieulafoy's lesion was 1.5±0.7. In regard to treatment, endoscopic therapy was applied in 80%, direct surgical suturing in 12%, angiographic embolization in 4%, and endoscopic therapy followed by surgical ligation was performed in 4% of patients. The endoscopic treatment was a feasible choice for rectal disease, with a primary hemostasis rate of 88%. Although the overall mortality rate was 6%, the causes of death were unrelated to this entity. This review illustrates that patients with rectal Dieulafoy's lesion can have a favorable clinical outcome. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management are of paramount importance to prevent serious hemodynamic complications. The best therapeutic modality remains to be determined but the data presented here support the use of mechanical endoscopic methods as safe and effective.

Progress in diagnosis and treatment of colorectal Dieulafoy's disease

Dieulafoy's lesion, also named calibre persistent submucosal artery, is one of the rare and fatal causes of gastrointestinal bleeding, which can occur throughout the digestive tract. About 4% of Dieulafoy's lesions are located in the colon and rectum, especially in the rectum, cecum, and ascending colon. At present, the etiology and pathogenesis of colorectal Dieulafoy's disease are still not completely clear. The main clinical manifestation of colorectal Dieulafoy's disease is recurrent and massive hematochezia, and there may be no clinical manifestation during the intermittent period of the hemorrhage. The diagnosis and treatment of Dieulafoy's disease mainly rely on endoscopy, but due to the operating difficulties, clinical characteristics, and other factors, the treatment and diagnosis of this disease remain a challenge to clinicians. In this paper, we will discuss the pathology, etiology, pathogenesis, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal Dieulafoy's lesion.

Endoscopic Management of Rectal Dieulafoy's Lesion: A Case Series and Optimal Treatment

Rectal Dieulafoy's lesion (DL) is rare cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Because of its rarity, there is no consensus on the optimal endoscopic hemostasis technique for rectal DL. We analyzed six patients who underwent endoscopic management for rectal DL after presenting with hematochezia at a single institute over 10 years. Of the six patients, three underwent endoscopic band ligation (EBL) and three underwent endoscopic hemoclip placement (EHP). Only one patient was treated with thermocoagulation. There were no immediate complications in any of the patients. None of the patients required a procedure or surgery for the treatment of rebleeding. Mean procedure times of EBL and EHP were 5.25 minutes and 7 minutes, respectively. Both EHP and EBL are shown to be effective in the treatment of bleeding rectal DL. We suggest that EBL may have potential as the preferred therapy owing to its superiority in technical and economic aspects, especially in elderly and high-risk patients.

Endoscopic band ligation: beyond prevention and management of gastroesophageal varices

Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is the preferred endoscopic technique for the endoscopic treatment of acute esophageal variceal bleeding. EBL has also been used to treat nonvariceal bleeding. Recently, Han et al demonstrated that EBL can be a feasible and safe alternate technique for the management of iatrogenic gastric perforation especially in cases in which closure with endoclips is difficult. EBL is technically simpler to perform than other methods and provides a good view of the lesions under direct pressure and suction from the transparent ligation cap. EBL can be used even if the diameter of the perforation is greater than 10 mm or if there is a severe tangential angle. In this commentary, we discuss the efficacy and safety of EBL for the closure of iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of EBL for the treatment of nonvariceal bleeding.

Efficacy of endoscopic therapy for gastrointestinal bleeding from Dieulafoy's lesion

AIM

To investigate the endoscopic hemostasis for gastrointestinal bleeding due to Dieulafoy's lesion.

METHODS

One hundred and seven patients with gastrointestinal bleeding due to Dieulafoy's lesion were treated with three endoscopic hemostasis methods: aethoxysklerol injection (46 cases), endoscopic hemoclip hemostasis (31 cases), and a combination of hemoclip hemostasis with aethoxysklerol injection (30 cases).

RESULTS

The rates of successful hemostasis using the three methods were 71.7% (33/46), 77.4% (24/31) and 96.7% (29/30), respectively, with significant differences between the methods (P < 0.05). Among those who had unsuccessful treatment with aethoxysklerol injection, 13 were treated with hemoclip hemostasis and 4 underwent surgical operation; 9 cases were successful in the injection therapy. Among the cases with unsuccessful treatment with hemoclip hemostasis, 7 were treated with injection of aethoxysklerol and 3 cases underwent surgical operation; 4 cases were successful in the treatment with hemoclip hemostasis. Only 1 case had unsuccessful treatment with a combined therapy of hemoclip hemostasis and aethoxysklerol injection, and surgery was then performed. No serious complications of perforation occurred in the patients whose bleeding was treated with the endoscopic hemostasis, and no re-bleeding was found during a 1-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The combined therapy of hemoclip hemostasis with aethoxysklerol injection is the most effective method for gastrointestinal bleeding due to Dieulafoy's lesion.

Clinical and endoscopic characteristics of acute haemorrhagic rectal ulcer, and endoscopic haemostatic treatment: a retrospective study of 95 patients

AIM

Acute haemorrhagic rectal ulcer (AHRU) is characterized by sudden onset of painless and massive rectal bleeding in elderly bedridden patients who have serious illness. Endoscopic diagnosis and management of AHRU is, however, still controversial. We retrospectively investigated 95 AHRU patients to elucidate the clinical characteristics, endoscopic findings and haemostatic strategies.

METHOD

Between January 1999 and March 2007, 95 patients were diagnosed with AHRU in our hospital. Medical records and colonoscopy files were reviewed. Clinical features, colonoscopic findings, haemostatic treatment and outcome of the patients were evaluated.

RESULTS

Eighty per cent of the patients were bedridden at the onset. The most frequent underlying disorder was cerebrovascular disease (36.8%). Hypoalbuminaemia (< 3.5 g/dl) was seen in 92.6% of the patients. Endoscopic findings of AHRU were classified as circumferential ulcer (41.1%), linear or nearly round small ulcer(s) (44.2%), circumferential and small ulcer(s) (7.4%) and Dieulafoy-like ulcer (7.4%). Primary endoscopic haemostatic treatment was performed in 45.3% of cases. Recurrent bleeding occurred in 24.2% of patients. Permanent haemostasis was achieved by secondary endoscopic treatment in 82.6% of re-bleeding patients.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the typical clinical and endoscopic findings and careful endoscopic examination are important for the accurate diagnosis of AHRU, and endoscopic haemostatic therapy may be effective for bleeding patients.

Endoscopic therapy for gastrointestinal bleeding due to Dieulafoy lesion: an analysis of 77 cases

AIM: To assess endoscopic homeostasis method for gastrointestinal bleeding due to Dieulafoy lesion.

METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with gastrointestinal bleeding due to Dieulafoy lesion were treated with the following three kinds of endoscopic homeostasis methods: injecting therapy with aethoxysclerol (36 cases), endoscopic hemoclip homeostasis (21 cases), hemoclip hemostasis in combination with injecting therapy of aethoxysclerol (20 cases). The successful homeostasis rates and complication rates of the three approaches were assessed.

RESULTS: Successful homeostasis rates of the three approaches were 80.6%(29/36), 95.2%(20/21) and 100(20/20), respectively and a significant difference was detected (P < 0.05). 7 cases who failed with injecting therapy of aethoxysklerol were treated with hemoclip hemastasis. 5 cases succeeded and 2 cases failed and underwent further surgical operation. 1 case who failed with hemoclip homeostasis was later treated with injecting therapy of aethoxysklerol and bleeding was controlled. No serious complications including perforation occurred in patients using endoscopic hemostasis method and no re-bleeding occurred during half-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Hemoclip hemostasis in combination with injecting therapy of aethoxysklerol is the most effective method for gastrointestinal bleeding due to Dieulafoy lesion.