Electrosurgical advances in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Because of rapid technological advances in endoscopic instrumentation, electrosurgical polypectomy and electrocoagulation has become a reality in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Twenty gastric polyps and three duodenal polyps have been removed. Six additional hyperplastic gastric polyps were electrodesiccated. Nine gastric ulcers, four duodenal ulcers, one hemorrhagic gastritis, one gastric varix and three Mallory-Weiss tears were successfully electrocoagulated. One duodenal ulcer and one Mallory-Weiss tear was unsuccessfully electrocoagulated. No morbidity nor mortality occurred as a result of electrosurgical polypectomy or electrocoagulation.