ENDOSCOI'IC CLOSURE OF'MUCOSAL DEFECTS WITH METALLIC CLIPS AFTER ENDOSCOPIC MUCOSAL RESECTION IN PATIENTS WITH INTRAMURAL TUMORS OF THE STOMACH

Abstract

Background and Study Aims:Representative complications of endoscopic mucosal resection to treat intramural gastric tumors include bleeding and perforation. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether endoscopic closure of mucosal defects using metallic clips decreases the incidence of delayed bleeding following endoscopic mucosal resection. Patients and Methods:The records of 187 intramural tumors of the stomach in the 181 patients that were treated by endoscopic mucosal resection between 1992 and 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were classified into two groups. The first group included patients who were received endoscopic mucosal resection but were not treated by endoscopic mucosal closure. The second group included patients who were treated with endoscopic mucosal closure using metallic clips after endoscopic mucosal resection. The incidences of delayed bleeding following endoscopic mucosal resection in these two groups were evaluated. Results:Delayed bleeding following endoscopic mucosal resection was observed in 130f 96 (13.5%)of the lesions of the first group. Delayed bleeding was encountered in only two of 91 (2.2%)lesions of the second group. Conclusions:Endoscopic closure of mucosal defects with metallic clips after endoscopic inucosal resection in gastric lesions was useful in decreasing the incidence of delayed bleeding following endoscopic mucosal resection.