[Hemospray: a novel therapeutic option in the management of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding].

INTRODUCTION: Early endoscopic diagnosis and endoscopic therapy are very important in cases of acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Hemospray is an inorganic powder with hemostatic properties recently proposed for the treatment of acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

AIM: The aim of the authors was to report the first Hungarian experience obtained with Hemospray in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

METHOD: During a 14-month period 10 acute upper gastrointestinal bleeder patients were treated endoscopically with Hemospray in 11 settings. In 5 patients previous endoscopic hemostatic methods failed and in the remaining 5 patients Hemospray was administrated as a first-line therapy.

RESULTS: Primary hemostasis was achieved in 9 of the 10 patients treated with Hemospray. Two patients died during hospitalization (uncontrolled arterial bleeding in one patient and hepatic encephalopathy in the other one patient). Primary hemostasis and hemodynamic stability were achieved in each of the 4 patients who had thrombopenia.

CONCLUSIONS: Hemospray as a rescue therapy may ensure primary hemostasis in severe acute gastrointestinal bleeding even in cases with thrombopenia.