[The neodym-yag-laser: an effective instrument for stopping gastrointestinal bleeding (author's transl)]

Fotocoagulation was performed during 291 emergency endoscopies, mostly in the upper gastrointestinal tract with a neodym-yag-laser from Nov. 1st '78 to Okt. 30th '80; 324 sources of bleeding could be localized in the cases mentioned. Under optimal conditions an immediate stop of bleeding could be achieved in 99% by this procedure. In 27% of cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding relapses occurred within 4 weeks after fotocoagulation, but only a few of these cases bled from areas coagulated before. Therefore it can be said, that neodym-yag-laser is a very effective instrument in stopping lifethreatening gastrointestinal bleeding, especially if the new transmission system is used (quartzmonofiber with coaxial CO2-jet-stream).