POST-ENDOSCOPIC ACUTE GASTRIC MUCOSAL LESION-ITS CLINICAL FEATURES

Abstract

The cause of post-endoscopic acute gastric mucosal lesion (PE-AGML) has been unknown for 15 years. Recently we suspected that it could be an infection caused by the endoscope. We report here clinical features of 145 patients with PE-AGML over a 15 year period and prevention method. Results : (1) The incidence of PE-AGML was higher in patients (68%) who had under-gone an endoscopy for the first time than in patients (32%) who had experienced before. (2)2 These patients complained of severe epigastralgia (96%) and vomiting (58%) on the 4-7th day (85%) after the endoscopy. (3) Acute antral hemorrhagic gastritis or multiple ulcers, which were not detected in the initial endoscopy, were observed in 93% of the patients. (4) The incidence of PE-AGML was 1 versus 800 cases after endoscopic examination. (5) PE -AGML also occurred in younger people (20's-40's) more than in older people (beyond their 50's). (6) PE-AGML never occured aftre changing the disinfection method of an endoscope, which was cleaned automatically with "Olympus EW20" for 15 minutes and disinfected in a solution of 2% glutaraldehyde for 3 minutes during that period. Conclusion : The clinical features of 145 patients with PE-AGML and prevention method were reported.