The Feasibility of Retrieving Retained Hemostatic Clips in the Stomach: Case Series

ABSTRACT

Hemostatic clips are widely used to treat gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and closure of defects in the GI tract. Few data on retrieving hemostatic clips retained in the GI tract are available. Patients who had hemostatic clips retained in the stomach for more than 2 weeks after placement were enrolled. Clips were removed with grasping forceps during endoscopy. In 15 patients, a total of 45 clips were placed, and 31 clips (68.9%) were retained. The median periods of clip retention was 105 days (range, 39~1,383 days). Twenty-seven clips (87.1%) were successfully retrieved with grasping forceps, and four clips (12.9%) were not removed because they were fixed on the stomach wall. Adverse events occurred in two patients (13.3%) both involved immediate bleeding at the retrieval site; however, the bleeding was completely treated by replacing the clips. In conclusion, retrieving clips retained long-term was relatively safe and feasible. Complications were easily controlled by re-placement of clips.