Mallory-Weiss syndrome: clinical and endoscopic characteristics

Mallory-Weiss syndrome is defined by upper gastrointestinal bleeding from vomiting-induced mucosal lacerations at the esophago-gastric junction. This study was purposed to investigate the incidence, location, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and effectiveness of treatment (including endoscopic treatment and conservative medical treatment) of Mallory-Weiss syndrome in China.

All patients who received emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy due to Mallory-Weiss syndrome from September 2007 to August 2011 at gastrointestinal endoscopy center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University were included in this study. The clinical presentation, medical history, location and characteristics of Mallory-Weiss syndrome methods and effectiveness of therapy of patients with Mallory-Weiss syndrome were retrospectively analyzed by chart reviews. Long-term follow-up data were collected at outpatient clinics or telephone interviews.

Sixteen patients were diagnosed with Mallory-Weiss syndrome, which account for 3.08% of 519 patients with acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Common comorbidities were found in one patient with hepatic cirrhosis. Conservative medical treatment, local injection, hemoclipping, or multipolar electrocoagulation produced primary hemostasis in 87.5% (14/16) of patients.

Mallory-Weiss syndrome is uncommon in China in comparison with reported experience in the west when the same group of patients is selected. Different approaches to treatment are to be recommended depending on whether or not active hemorrhage is present.