Endoscopic ultrasound access, therapy, and treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding

Abstract

The first line of therapy for gastrointestinal bleeding is endoscopic treatment. However, there is a subset of patients in whom standard endoscopic hemostatic treatment fails or is considered unsuitable. Historically, these patients underwent surgical or interventional radiologic procedures to manage the refractory bleed. Endoscopic ultrasound has recently been used to help detect and offer alternative approaches to treatment and potentially improve patient outcome for these difficult-to-treat lesions. This article serves as a review of the novel endoscopic ultrasound techniques used to treat gastrointestinal bleeding.