HEATER PROBE THERMOCOAGULATION A S A SUBSTITUTE FOR SURGICAL INTERVENTION TO ARREST MASSIVE PEPTIC ULCER BLEEDING: A CONTROLLED, PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF 42 CASES

The goal of this study was to compare the effect of heater probe thermocoagulation for massive bleeding of peptic ulcers with a control group. Between March 1992 and August 1995 we used heater probe thermocoagulation endoscopically to treat 42 patients with active UGl bleeding or nonbleeding visible vessels at the base of ulcer craters within 2-3 hours of admission. We also selected 42 patients with active bleeding or non bleeding visible vessels who did not receive any endoscopic treatment but were instead treated conservatively as the control group. The energy applied to each of our patients in the heater probe group was 105±22.5 J (mean±SD). Rebleeding occurred within 2-5 days in 2 patients (4.7%) in the heater pro be group versus 9 patients (21.4 % ) in the control group (p= 0.05). Mean duration of admission in the heater probe group was 4.3±3.1 days versus 6.9±3.8 days in the control group which was comparable (p= 0.0027). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups concerning transfusion requirement and mortality. Heater probe therapy was tolerated by the patients very well and no complications occurred. Heater probe thermocoagulation is an effective, safe and economical procedure for treating peptic ulcer bleeding.