Polidocanol injection therapy for small-bowel hemangioma by using double-balloon endoscopy

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopy
• Vascular Lesions

Background:

• Small-bowel hemangiomas are rare vascular malformations.
• These lesions frequently cause significant gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Surgical resection is the conventional treatment, carrying associated risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of polidocanol injection (PDI) for treating small-bowel hemangiomas.
• To compare outcomes of PDI based on lesion size.
• To determine optimal polidocanol dosage for effective treatment.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 12 patients with obscure GI bleeding and 39 small-bowel hemangiomas.
• Treatment administered via polidocanol injection (PDI) using double-balloon endoscopy (DBE).
• Lesions categorized into two groups (<10 mm and ≥10 mm) for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• Polidocanol injection (PDI) showed a low rebleeding rate of 8% (1 of 12 patients).
• No adverse events were reported following PDI.
• A significant correlation (r=0.77) was found between lesion size and polidocanol amount, establishing an optimal dose of 0.2 mL/mm.

Conclusions:

• Polidocanol injection (PDI) is a safe, easy, and effective endoscopic treatment for small-bowel hemangiomas.
• PDI presents a viable alternative to surgery for managing these rare vascular lesions.
• The study provides a standardized dosage guideline for PDI based on lesion size.