Case Report
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World J Gastrointest Endosc. May 16, 2011; 3(5): 105-106
Published online May 16, 2011. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v3.i5.105
Gastroesophageal junction tear from HALO 90® System: A case report
Ellen Gutkin, Alan Schnall
Ellen Gutkin, Alan Schnall, Division of Gastroenterology, New York Hospital Queens, NY 11355, United States
Author contributions: Gutkin E and Schnall A contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Ellen Gutkin, DO, Division of Gastroenterology, New York Hospital Queens, 56-45 Main Street Flushing, NY 11355, United States. ellen.gutkin@gmail.com
Telephone: +1-718-670-2559 Fax: +1-718-670-2456
Received: July 21, 2010
Revised: December 24, 2010
Accepted: December 31, 2010
Published online: May 16, 2011
Abstract

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.

Keywords: Halo® 90; Radiofrequency ablation; Gastric antral vascular ectasia; Cirrhosis; Endoscopy; Complications