Abstract
The efficacy of photocoagulation by the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd-YAG) laser in the endoscopic control of upper gastrointestinal bleeding has been demonstrated previously. Yet rebleeding remains possible. In the present report the results are presented of a histological study of resection specimens from patients who required emergency surgery for recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic laser treatment. The study was set up in order: (1) to describe the changes induced by laser treatment and (2) to identify possible causes of recurrent bleeding. The findings show that laser photocoagulation can induce major vascular changes but that these may be incomplete. Incomplete photocoagulation may be responsible for the rebleeding and may itself be caused by poor accessibility to the bleeding site.
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Geboes, K., Rutgeerts, P., Broeckaert, L. et al. Laser photocoagulation of bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers: A morphological study. Laser Med Sci 1, 13–18 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02030732
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02030732