Endoscopic plication of massively bleeding peptic ulcer by using the Eagle Claw VII device: a feasibility study in a porcine model

Background and ObjectiveWe examined the efficacy of endoscopic plication when using Eagle Claw VII in a porcine bleeding ulcer model.Animal Model PreparationThe right gastroepiploic artery (diameter 1.5-2 mm) was isolated and was tunneled to small gastrotomies at either the lesser or greater curvature of the stomach.InterventionsWe applied the Eagle Claw VII to achieve hemostasis.Main Outcome MeasurementsThe survival of the pigs after endoscopic plication for hemostasis, time to achieve hemostasis with Eagle Claw VII, recurrent bleeding, number of successful plication, and number of suture remained.ResultsEndoscopic plication was performed on bleeding gastric ulcers in 6 pigs. The time to achieve hemostasis was 6 minutes 56 seconds ± 3 minutes 50 seconds. There was no complication. A total of 14 plications were performed. All animals survived for 1 week without recurrent bleeding. At the postmortem, 10 of the plication sutures remained.LimitationOur model cannot simulate the chronicity of peptic ulcer.ConclusionsIn this porcine model, the Eagle Claw VII effectively stopped bleeding from arteries 2 mm in size.