A clear approach: Hemostatic gel as a novel adjunct for pediatric upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Abstract

Pediatric upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a significant clinical concern, with a mortality rate of approximately 2%. Endoscopic management of UGIB in children includes various techniques such as injections, mechanical devices, thermal therapies, and topical agents. PuraStat®, a clear hemostatic gel, has been used in adults to create a physical barrier for hemostasis without obscuring the endoscopic view. However, its use in pediatric UGIB has not been well-documented. A review of four pediatric cases where PuraStat® was used to treat UGIB showed that it was applied as an adjunct to other hemostatic methods like clip placement or epinephrine injections, and in one case, as monotherapy for a large duodenal ulcer/site of recently contained perforation. The gel was easy to use, appeared to be beneficial, and was well-tolerated in this small cohort, although conclusions regarding its safety and efficacy are limited by the sample size.