Published online May 16, 2011. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v3.i5.105
Revised: December 24, 2010
Accepted: December 31, 2010
Published online: May 16, 2011
Gastric antral vascular ectasia often results in chronic gastrointestinal bleeding with few options for effective treatment. The Halo® 90 system has been newly approved for this indication. A 56 year old male with ETOH cirrhosis and gastrointestinal bleeding from gastric vascular ectasia presented for endoscopy with Halo® 90 radiofrequency ablation. Over the past two years he had undergone multiple bipolar electric coagulation and argon plasma coagulation treatments. Despite this therapy, he con-
tinued to receive monthly blood transfusions. We therefore opted to treat the vascular anomalies with the Halo® 90 system utilizing radiofrequency ablation. Upon withdrawal of the endoscope post procedure, mild resistance and bleeding was noted at the gastroesophageal junction. Repeat endoscopy revealed a submucosal tear at the gastroesophageal junction. This is the first reported complication of the Halo® 90 system when used for gastric antral vascular ectasia.