Symptoms Of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Research Articles

Comparison and validation of the Japanese score and other scoring systems in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding: A retrospective study.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is one of the most urgent medical conditions, with peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) accounting for most gastrointestinal bleeding cases. The Japanese scoring system was developed to predict the probability of intervention in patients with UGIB, and it is more effective than other scoring systems, according to several studies. This study aimed to verify whether the Japanese scoring system is better than other scoring systems in predicting the probability of intervention when limited to PUB in patients with UGIB. We enrolled patients who presented with symptoms of UGIB and were diagnosed with peptic ulcers using endoscopy. The performances of the scoring systems in predicting patient outcomes were validated and compared using the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Additionally, we used the chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and the t test to analyze the association between the patients characteristics and clinical outcomes. Of the 1228 patients diagnosed with peptic ulcers, 90.6% underwent endoscopy. rebleeding occurred in 12.5% of the patients, and 2.5% of the patients died within 30 days. The Japanese score was the most effective in predicting the need for endoscopic intervention for PUB. Sex, systolic blood pressure, hematemesis, syncope, blood urea nitrogen level, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists score were predictive factors for the probability of endoscopic intervention in patients with PUB. The Japanese score is an effective predictor of the probability of endoscopic intervention in patients with PUB.

Mallory-Weiss syndrome in four hemodialysis patients: a case study

BackgroundHemodialysis patients are prone to gastrointestinal bleeding, and Mallory-Weiss syndrome (MWS) is one of the causes. Mallory-Weiss syndrome is often induced by severe vomiting, manifests as upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and is self-limited with a good prognosis. However, mild vomiting in hemodialysis patients can lead to the occurrence of MWS, and the mild early symptoms are easy to misdiagnose, leading to the aggravation of the disease.Case presentationIn this paper, we report four hemodialysis patients with MWS. All patients displayed symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnosis of MWS was confirmed by gastroscopy. One patient had a history of severe vomiting; however, the other three reported histories of mild vomiting. Three patients received the conservative hemostasis treatment, and the gastrointestinal bleeding stopped. One patient underwent the gastroscopic and interventional hemostasis treatments. The conditions of three of the patients improved. Unfortunately, one of the patients died due to the cardia insufficiency.ConclusionsWe think that the mild symptoms of MWS are easily covered up by other symptoms. This may lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment. For patients with severe symptoms, gastroscopic hemostasis is still the first choice, and interventional hemostasis can also be considered. For patients with mild symptoms, drug hemostasis is the first consideration.

Utilizing Endoscopy for the Diagnosis of Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Background Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a medical emergency requiring immediate diagnosis. While endoscopy is a commonly employed procedure in the evaluation of UGIB, its timing, outcomes, and the range of identified causes vary widely across different medical settings and regions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use endoscopy to investigate the cause of UGIB. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Gastroenterology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, over a period of one year, from July 1st, 2021 to June 28th, 2022. The study enrolled all patients who were 18 years of age or older and exhibited symptoms of UGIB, including hematemesis and/or melena, within 48 hours of onset. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure was conducted in order to identify the underlying cause of UGIBand to apply appropriate therapeutic interventions. In patients where the endoscopic examination revealed bleeding ulcers, a specimen for biopsy was excised to test for Helicobacter pylori. Similarly, in cases where a malignancy was suspected during the endoscopy, a biopsy was performed for confirmatory diagnosis. A pre-designed proforma was utilized to collect data including the demographic variables such as age, gender, ethnicity, family history; clinical variables such as clinical presentation, comorbidities, medical history, medication use, vital signs, biochemical evaluation, and imaging results; endoscopic findings such as endoscopic location and severity of bleeding, endoscopic diagnosis, and the use of endoscopic interventions. Information relevant to the treatment and outcomes was also observed. Under outcomes, the rates of re-bleeding, need for repeat endoscopy, length of hospital stay, and mortality were recorded. Results The study reports that the mean age of the participants was 54.72 years with a standard deviation of 12.5 years. The mean hemoglobin level at the presentation was 7.98 ± 2.88 mg/dl. Out of the 309 patients, 215 (69.58%) were male, 202 (65.37%) presented with hematemesis, 97 (31.39%) presented with melena, and 10 patients had a mixed presentation. A total of 154 (49.84%) patients had portal hypertension. Out of these, 128 (83.12%) had esophageal varices and 21 (13.64%) had gastric varices. Five patients suffered from portal hypertensive gastropathy. In 114 (36.89%) patients, the cause of bleeding was ulcerative disease and out of these, duodenal ulcers were found in 49 (42.98%) while gastric ulcers were found in 22 (19.30%) patients. In total malignant lesions were detected in 20 (6.47%) cases. Conclusion The researchindicates that hematemesis was the predominant initial symptom observed in individuals experiencing UGIB. The predominant etiology of the hemorrhage was identified as esophageal and gastric varices through endoscopic assessment. The study highlights the importance of early endoscopic evaluation in patients with UGIB as it can help identify the cause and guide appropriate management. This emphasizes the need for healthcare providers to be vigilant in identifying and managing patients with UGIB promptly to improve outcomes. Further research is needed to explore effective strategies for early detection and management of UGIB.

ABC score is an effective predictor of outcomes in peptic ulcer bleeding.

Risk stratification is recommended for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. The ABC score is a new scoring tool with high accuracy for upper and lower GI bleeding. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the ABC score in predicting the outcomes of patients with peptic ulcer bleeding. This single-center retrospective study included 809 patients, each with symptoms of upper GI bleeding, and who were diagnosed with ulcerative lesions between October 2011 and March 2021. The association between the ABC score's variables and the patients' outcome was analyzed. The score's performance in predicting the patients' outcome was validated using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis and compared with that of other scores. The study analyzed 772 patients with peptic ulcer bleeding. The primary outcome measure was all-cause 30-day mortality. Secondary outcome measures included rebleeding within 30 days and the need for radiologic/surgical intervention. Age (P = .013), serum albumin levels (P < .001), serum creatinine levels (P = .004), mental status (P < .001), and American Society of Anesthesiologists score (P < .001) were associated with the primary outcome. The ABC score predicted the 30-day mortality (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve [AUROC] 0.927; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.899-0.956) better than other scores. However, it was less accurate in predicting rebleeding (AUROC 0.630; 95% CI 0.563-0.697) and need for radiologic/surgical intervention (AUROC 0.641; 95% CI 0.550-0.732). The ABC score accurately predicts the 30-day mortality in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding. However, it may not be suitable for predicting rebleeding or the need for radiologic/surgical interventions.

S2327 Gurvits Syndrome in Setting of Uncontrolled Diabetes and Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding Successfully Treated with Extended Duration PPI Despite Continuing DOAC

Introduction: A young male with past medical history (PMH) of severely uncontrolled non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) with recurrent admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis, both secondary to medication non-adherence, presented via emergency medical services (EMS) after being found unresponsive at home and subsequently developed acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) during a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for acute respiratory failure. He was successfully treated with extended duration of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy and control of underlying risk factors despite being continued on anticoagulation. Case Description/Methods: A 39-year-old male with PMH of uncontrolled NIDDM presented was admitted for acute respiratory failure secondary to DKA and pneumonia. He was intubated and admitted to ICU, while continued on DKA protocol including antibiotics. GI was consulted for hematemesis and melena 2 weeks into hospitalization. EGD revealed circumferential black esophageal mucosa in the distal esophagus abruptly ending at the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and hiatal hernia. Recommendations included Intravenous (IV) proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and strict avoidance of naso/orgastric (NG/OG) tube. Follow up EGD few months after discharge showed remarkable improvement of mucosa as noted in Figures A and B, despite continuation of DOAC as per patient wishes for DVT developed during the stay. Discussion: AEN is a rare syndrome disproportionately reported in men which is characterized by circumferential black esophageal mucosa in the distal 2 thirds of the esophagus, abruptly ceasing at the GEJ. Ischemia is postulated to be an inciting event. Conditions associated with AEN are antibiotics, sepsis, gastric volvulus, hernia, DKA, malignancy, and prolonged vomiting. Symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) and shock are common presentations. Although biopsy establishes diagnosis and rules out other causes, EGD finding is generally sufficient. Initial management consists of IV fluids and treatment of the underlying cause. IV PPI and nil per os (NPO) is recommended. NG/OG tubes are avoided unless vomiting or obstruction is present. Mortality is largely due to underlying disease rather than directly from AEN, hence supportive care results in resolution in most cases, as seen in our patient. Our case demonstrates the importance of addressing underlying causes, as well as PPI therapy, which can overcome continued anticoagulation.Figure 1.: A. Acute esophageal necrosis discovered on endoscopy while undergoing EGD for acute GI bleeding during ICU admission for DKA and acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation B. Resolution of acute esophageal necrosis with grossly normal mucosa on follow up endoscopy conducted after extended duration PPI therapy and relatively controlled diabetes.

Frequency of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding As Precipitant of Hepatic Encephalopathy among Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Objective: To find frequency of upper gastrointestinal bleeding as precipitant of hepatic encephalopathy among patients with liver cirrhosis. Study design. Descriptive cross sectional study Setting: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. Duration: 6 months 20th December 2018 to 20th June 2019. Material and Methods: In this study a total of 271 patients were observed. History regarding the current illness was taken from the patient or the accompanying caregivers in case patient cannot respond adequately or at all. Emphasize was on the possible precipitant of current HE episode especially symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding like hematemesis and malena. On examination; body temperature, stigmata of chronic liver disease such as hepatic flap, grading of HE and similarly presenting conditions was looked for. Results: In this study mean age was 45 years with SD ± 11.27. Fifty nine percent patients were male whle 41% patients were female. More over 10% patients had upper gastrointestinal bleed with hepatic encephalopathy among patients with liver cirrhosis. Conclusion: Our study concludes that the frequency of upper gastrointestinal bleed was 10% as precipitant of hepatic encephalopathy among patients with liver cirrhosis. Keywords: Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed, Hepatic Encephalopathy, Liver Cirrhosis.

Esophageal perforation due to acute esophageal necrosis: A case report and a comprehensive literature review

Background. Acute esophageal necrosis is a rare and potentially lethal entity. The pathogenesis is multifactorial, generally presenting with symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We present a case that presents atypically with initial esophageal perforation. Case presentation. A 46-year-old man with a history of alcoholism and cocaine use, an active smoker, and a ruptured celiac trunk aneurysm treated by embolization, who, after acute chest and epigastric pain, is diagnosed with a Stanford B thoracoabdominal aortic dissection, being repaired endovascularly by placing an aortic endoprosthesis. Due to clinical suspicion of mesenteric ischemia complicated with esophageal/gastric perforation, a postoperative tomography was performed, revealing perforation of the esophagus distal to the left pleura and ischemic cholecystitis. Transhiatal esophagectomy, cervical esophagostomy, Witzel-type decompressive gastrostomy, Witzel-type feeding jejunostomy, classic cholecystectomy, and mediastinum drainage were performed. During the postoperative period, the patient remained in critical condition, dying as a result of hypoxic encephalopathy. The histopathological study reported acute transmural esophageal ischemia. Discussion. Tissue hypoperfusion plays a dominant role in the pathogenesis of acute esophageal necrosis. Esophageal perforation is a serious complication and can occur in the early stages, with esophagectomy and deferred digestive reconstruction being the appropriate treatment. Conclusion. Ischemia is a fundamental mechanism of acute esophageal necrosis; its diagnosis must always be established in the various complications that may occur in patients with hemodynamic compromise, in order to obtain a timely treatment.

Sporadic foveolar-type adenoma in gastric body/antrum junction with gastritis cystica profunda

BackgroundSporadic gastric foveolar-type adenomas are extremely rare and are usually small, flat or slightly raised lesions that occur in the oxyntic mucosa.Case presentationWe reported here a case of a 70-year-old female with a sporadic gastric foveolar-type adenoma occurring in the mucosa at the junction of the gastric body/antrum. The adenoma was a protruding lesion of 2 × 1.8 cm sized, causing symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and the basal and surrounding mucosa showed pseudopyloric gland metaplasia without atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, H. pylori infection, or active inflammation. It had somatic mutations in both APC and KRAS genes.ConclusionsThis is the first reported case of a large sporadic gastric foveolar-type adenoma that occurred in the mucosa of pseudopyloric gland metaplasia and with Gastritis Cystica Profunda, which modify our understanding of the morphological features and molecular underpinnings of this type of lesion.

Acute Esophageal Necrosis: An In-depth Review of Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management.

IntroductionAcute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is an uncommon but fatal cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The complex pathophysiology of the disorder provides multiple points for intervention. Therefore, it is important to discuss the many multifaceted aspects of the disease.MethodsA scoping review was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov. We reviewed literature from 1990 to 2021. The keywords used were ‘acute esophageal necrosis’, ‘upper GI bleed’, ‘pathogenesis’, ‘EGD’, ‘prognosis’.Results and conclusionsThe review summarized findings of 46 studies. AEN usually targets older males who have underlying cardiovascular disease. The middle part of the esophagus is commonly involved. The pathogenesis of AEN depends on conditions that increase risk of mucosal damage such as ischemia, lack of mucosal protection and excessive gastric reflux. Some medications are also responsible for the disease. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is usually the gold standard for diagnosis. Findings suggestive of AEN include darkened, sharply demarcated circumferential areas. Supportive measures, including bowel rest, fluid supplementation and proton pump inhibitors are the cornerstone of therapy. A high index of suspicion should be maintained in patients with chronic health problems presenting with signs and symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding because AEN can carry an unfavorable prognosis in these patients.

Characteristics of Patients with Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding - Are We Underestimating Gastroprotection during NSAIDs Therapy?

The aim of our study was to determine the etiological factors, treatment and outcome of patients with non-variceal bleeding from upper gastrointestinal tract. This study enrolled 200 patients admitted to Sarajevo University Clinical Center with signs and symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, from January 2019 to July 2020. All patients had undergone gastroscopy, confirming the cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Clinical and laboratory data were collected retrospectively, including previous non-steroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anticoagulant therapy, comorbidities, risk factors, as well as endoscopic findings, laboratory findings, treatment and clinical follow-up. The majority of patients were men (59%) with an average age of 53±6 years. Duodenal and gastric ulcers were the most common cause, followed by other etiologies. In our study, previous NSAIDs therapy had been registered in 29.5% of patients, anticoagulants in 8%, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) in 2.9% of patients. Endoscopic intervention was required in 34% of patients. The need for transfusion occurred in 44.5% of cases. Rebleeding during hospitalization was observed in 7.5% of patients, mortality in 1.5% and surgery in 3% of patients. The patients admitted to our hospital with symptoms of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding were elderly, predominantly males, with significant comorbidities and a higher incidence of NSAID use. Gastroprotection is underutilized during NSAID treatment in patients with other coexisting risk factors, with a low rate of concomitant use of PPI during NSAIDs therapy. Endoscopic therapy, together with PPI, significantly reduces rebleeding rates, mortality and the number of emergency surgical interventions.

Are the blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio and the mean platelet volume able to act as predictors of mortality and morbidity in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

Background: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding originates above the Treitz ligament and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/Creatinine (Cr) ratio ≥30 was shown to indicate the presence of upper GI bleeding and it might be an independent risk factor for mortality. The mean platelet volume (MPV) was reported as an indicator of platelet function and activation and was shown to be useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of vascular-origin disorders. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether BUN/Cr ratio and MPV were predictors of mortality and morbidity in patients with upper GI bleeding.&#x0D; Material and Method: This retrospective study enrolled a total of 141 patients admitted to the Emergency Department with symptoms of upper GI bleeding and had undergone endoscopy between January 2013-January 2015. Demographics, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MPV, BUN/Cr, the hospitalization unit, the duration of stay, outcome, and the endoscopy reports of the patients were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0.&#x0D; Results: It was found that the MPV level did not predict mortality and morbidity in our patients with upper GI bleeding. The likelihood of active bleeding was higher in patients with a BUN/Cr ratio of above 30 when compared to those with a ratio of below 30.&#x0D; Conclusion: In patients presenting to the emergency department with symptoms of GI bleeding but without signs of renal failure, calculation of admission BUN/Cr ratio may be beneficial for making treatment and follow-up plans.

Prevalence of Angiodysplasia Detected in Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Examinations.

BackgroundThis study was performed to examine the prevalence of asymptomatic angiodysplasia detected in upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examinations and of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) suspected cases.MethodologyThe study participants were 5,034 individuals (3,206 males, 1,828 females; mean age 53.5 ± 9.8 years) who underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination as part of a medical check-up. The presence of angiodysplasia was examined endoscopically from the pharynx to duodenal second portion. HHT suspected cases were diagnosed based on the presence of both upper gastrointestinal angiodysplasia and recurrent nasal bleeding episodes occurring in the subject as well as a first-degree relative.ResultsAngiodysplasia was endoscopically detected in 494 (9.8%) of the 5,061 subjects. Those with angiodysplasia lesions in the pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, and duodenum numbered 44, 4, 155, 322, and 12, respectively. None had symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding or severe anemia. Subjects with angiodysplasia showed significant male predominance and were significantly older than those without. A total of 11 (0.2%) were diagnosed as HHT suspected cases by the presence of upper gastrointestinal angiodysplasia and recurrent epistaxis episodes from childhood in the subject as well as a first-degree relative.ConclusionsAsymptomatic angiodysplasia was detected in 9.8% of the subjects who underwent screening upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examinations.

Predicting The Mortality And Need Of Icu Admission By Using Various Scoring System In Patient Present With Hematemesis In Emergency Department.

BACKGROUNG: An overall annual incidence of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage has been estimated to be 40-150 per 1,00,000 populations (1,2), leads to annual hospital admission rate of approximately 100 per 1,00,000 hospital admissions, and has significant associated morbidity and mortality, especially in the elderly. Gastrointestinal bleeding, which is most commonly arises from mucosal erosive disease accounts for up to 20,000 deaths annually. Various risk scoring systems have been recently developed to predict clinical Outcomes and need of ICU admission in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) or hematemesis. The two commonly used scoring systems include full Rockall score (RS) and the Glasgow Blatchford score (GBS). MATERIAL AND METHOD: An observational, study was conducted on 50 patients with obvious symptoms of UGIB in the emergency department of SVPIMSR, Ahmedabad. full Rockall score (RS) and the Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS)were calculated. Data was collected from hospital iHiS system and analysed in epi info (version 7.3.2.1) CDC software. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients with UGIB were included in the study of which 72% were male and 28% were female. The mean age of patients was 47.36±16.69 years. It was found that majority of patients (44%) were in the age group of 40-60 years. Mean frequency of hematemesis was significantly higher in non-survival patient in comparison with survival ones (3.1±1.1 versus 1.85±0.62, p=0.0004). In mortality prediction full Rockall score is better than GBS (p value 0.0769 versus 0.9612). Full RS system seems to be better than GBS in predicting mortality and need for ICU admission in patients presented with hematemesis.

Major gastrointestinal bleeding and antithrombotics: Characteristics and management.

BACKGROUNDThere are few reports on major gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding among patients receiving an antithrombotic.AIMTo describe clinical characteristics, bleeding locations, management and in-hospital mortality related to these events.METHODSOver a three-year period, we prospectively identified 1080 consecutive adult patients admitted in two tertiary care hospitals between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2015 for major GI bleeding while receiving an antithrombotic. The bleeding events were medically validated. Clinical characteristics, causative lesions, management and fatalities were described. The distribution of antithrombotics prescribed was compared across the bleeding lesions identified.RESULTSOf 576 patients had symptoms of upper GI bleeding and 504 symptoms of lower GI bleeding. No cause was identified for 383 (35.5%) patients. Gastro-duodenal ulcer was the first causative lesion in the upper tract (209 out of 408) and colonic diverticulum the first causative lesion in the lower tract (120 out of 289). There was a larger proportion of direct oral anticoagulant use among patients with lower GI than among those with upper GI lesion locations (P = 0.03). There was an independent association between gastro-duodenal ulcer and antithrombotic use (P = 0.03), taking account of confounders and proton pump inhibitor co-prescription. Pair wise comparisons pointed to a difference between vitamin K antagonist, direct oral anticoagulants, and antiplatelet agents in monotherapy vs dual antiplatelet agents.CONCLUSIONWe showed a higher rate of bleeding lesion identification and suggested a different pattern of antithrombotic exposure between upper and lower GI lesion locations and between gastro-duodenal ulcer and other identified upper GI causes of bleeding. Management was similar across antithrombotics and in-hospital mortality was low (5.95%).

Daily Usage of Proton Pump Inhibitors May Reduce the Severity of Critical Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Elderly Patients

Introduction We retrospectively examined the relationship between daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and severity of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), mainly in the elderly. Methods We included 97 patients with nonvariceal UGIB diagnosed at our hospital from January 2012 to October 2017. Bleeding severity was assessed using the shock index (SI) and estimated bleeding volume; 49 patients met the criterion for the mild group and 48 for the moderate/severe group. The effect of PPI use on bleeding severity was compared between the groups. The relationships of PPI use and dose with the clinical symptoms of UGIB were also analyzed. Results Among the 97 patients, 17 (17.5%) habitually used PPIs. The rate of habitual PPI use was significantly higher in the mild group, indicating as an independent factor contributing to a reduction in the severity of UGIB in a multiple logistic regression analysis (30.6% vs. 4.2%; OR 10.147; 95% CI 2.174–47.358, P < 0.01). When analyzing data for a subgroup of patients older than 75 years, we found the protective PPI effect to be even higher in the mild UGIB group than in the moderate/severe group (37.0% vs. 5.6%; OR 10.000; 95% CI 1.150–86.951, P < 0.05). Conversely, we found no association between PPI prescription and UGIB symptoms in patients younger than 75 years. The mean estimated bleeding volume and SI in the 17 habitual PPI users were both significantly less than those among the 80 nonhabitual users, respectively (P < 0.05). The proportion of patients with mild UGIB was similar between the low- and high-dose PPI users. Conclusions Particularly in elderly patients with nonvariceal UGIB, habitual PPI use can alleviate the clinical symptoms of UGIB by suppressing the volume of bleeding, regardless of the adapted dose of PPIs.

Outcomes of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Based on Time to Endoscopy: A Retrospective Study.

IntroductionNon-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a major burden on the health care system. The timing of endoscopy has been an ongoing debate and data on the association of early endoscopy with a better or worse clinical outcome are conflicting. In our study, we aimed to identify the benefits versus the risks of performing an urgent endoscopy in regards to the number of endoscopic interventions, length of hospital stay, number of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) transfused, and mortality. MethodologyThis is a retrospective record-based study. A total of 806 charts were reviewed and 251 patients with the signs and symptoms of UGIB on presentation were included in the study. Patients with variceal bleeding, lower gastrointestinal bleeding, insignificant bleeds with no drop in H/H, GI bleed not being the presenting complaint on admission, and patients on anticoagulation were excluded.ResultsOut of the patients who underwent an urgent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), 26.2% needed a second-look EGD 48 hours after the first EGD when compared to 4% and 2% in the early (12-24 hours) and late (>24 hours) endoscopy groups, respectively. In patients who underwent urgent EGD, 23% had active bleeding and it was statistically significant when compared to the other groups. The active bleeding limited the visualization during the endoscopy, which led to a repeat EGD in the urgent EGD group. If an endoscopic intervention was received, patients having EGD >24 hours received a smaller number of interventions. There was no statistical difference in the Blatchford scores between the three groups, indicating that the groups were similar in morbidity. No difference in mortality, hospital length of stay, or number of blood transfusions received, surgical or interventional radiology-guided interventions was found between the three groups.ConclusionPatients who underwent urgent endoscopy had more procedures, with no difference in mortality, number of units of blood transfused, or length of hospitalization when compared to the early or late endoscopy groups.

Evaluation of Tranexamic Acid Effect on Consequences of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients Referring to the Emergency Department; a Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the major and emergent causes of mortality and morbidity around the world. The tranexamic acid has been raised since years ago as a therapeutic intervention. Therefore, prize of exact and timely treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of systemic tranexamic acid on the possible consequences of upper gastrointestinal bleeding such as need for blood transfusion, admission in intensive care unit (ICU), surgery to control bleeding or eventually short-term mortality. Materials and Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial included 88 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a referral academic gastrointestinal center. Patients with symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding referred to the emergency department were randomly divided into two groups: intervention group (n=45) who treated with tranexamic acid in addition to receive standard therapy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and control group (n=43) treated with standard therapy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding and placebo (distilled water). Results: Administration of tranexamic acid along with the standard therapy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the intervention group caused reduction in mortality and recurrent bleeding compared to the control group. There is no difference between two groups in need for surgery, hemotransfusion and ICU admission. Conclusion: Due to the beneficial effects of tranexamic acid administration on reducing mortality and bleeding recurrence in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, added this drug to the standard therapy may have a favorable potential for upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY IN IDO-EKITI, NIGERIA: A FOUR-YEAR REVIEW

Background: Upper gastrointestinal complaints are common, and the underlying diseases varies widely. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is the gold standard investigation for upper gastrointestinal symptoms. It helps in the proper diagnosis and the appropriate management of the underlying lesions. Aim: To determine the characteristics of the patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in a rural community in south-western Nigeria. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients who had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between February 2016 and February 2020 (a period of 4 years). The Age, Gender, Indication and the Endoscopy findings were obtained from the Endoscopy Register. A total of 181 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies had been performed over the period. The data obtained was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Descriptive statistics used included frequency tables, means and standard deviations. Results: A total number of 181 Oesophagogastroduodenoscopies (OGDs) were performed during the period under review, out of which 95 (52.5%) were males and 86 (47.5%) were females with a male to female ratio of 1.1 to 1. The age range of the patients was 9 to 89 years with a mean(±SD) of 52.4(±1.69) and median of 52.0 years. The highest number of OGDs were performed on individuals within the age bracket of 50-59 years whom were mostly females. Dyspepsia constituted the commonest indication for OGD (51.9%) followed by symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (haematemesis/melaena) 16.0%, unexplained persistent vomiting 6.6% and clinical suspicion of a gastric tumour 5.5%. The commonest endoscopic abnormality detected from this study was Gastritis 28.2% followed by Gastric erosions 12.2%, Duodenal ulcers 8.8%, Gastric tumours 8.3% and Oesophagitis 7.2%. Normal endoscopy findings were found in 24.9% of the patients. Gastritis was also the commonest endoscopic finding (constituting 40.4%) in patients who had OGD done on account of dyspepsia followed by Duodenal ulcers (8.5%) and Gastric erosions (6.4%). Gastric erosions constituted the commonest cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in this study (44.8%) followed by Duodenal ulcers (13.8%). Conclusion: The commonest indication for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in this study was dyspepsia while the commonest endoscopic diagnosis was gastritis. Gastric erosion was most commonly seen in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. From this study, Acid-Peptic disorders were the commonest underlying gastrointestinal pathologies of patients’ symptomatology necessitating endoscopic evaluation. The findings from this study conducted in a rural community in Nigeria were similar to those conducted in urban communities in the country. Therefore, a national guideline on the endoscopic evaluation of upper gastrointestinal disorders can be universally applied irrespective of the location of practice in Nigeria.

Novel telemetric sensor capsule for EGD urgency triage: a feasibility study.

Background and study aims Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a frequent cause of hospitalization. Because of the lack of reliable noninvasive diagnostic tools, the decision to proceed with emergency endoscopy in these cases is made based on clinical parameters. A novel non-imaging telemetric real-time sensor capsule (HemoPill Acute, Ovesco Endoscopy AG) has shown promising results for noninvasive detection of UGIB in preclinical studies. Patients and methods We conducted a prospective non-randomized, single center, open-label study to investigate feasibility and safety of the novel sensor capsule in patients with symptoms of UGIB. The primary aim of the first clinical study was to investigate feasibility and safety of the device in a clinical setting. All patients underwent endoscopy within 12 hours after capsule ingestion. Sensor data from the capsule within 10 minutes after ingestion were compared with endoscopic findings. Results From April 2015 to February 2016, 30 consecutive patients with symptoms of acute UGIB were included; 27 were eligible for analysis. Capsule ingestion was well tolerated in all patients and there were no device-related adverse events. Endoscopy showed blood or hematin in the upper gastrointestinal tract of 10 of 27 patients; in 2 of 10 patients it was estimated to be more than 20 mL; in 4 of 8 patients it was between 5 and 20 mL and in 4 of 8 it was estimated to < 5 mL. The sensor capsule was positive in 2 of 2 patients (100 %) with > 20 mL of blood or hematin and in 1 of 8 patients (12.5 %) between 5 and 20 mL. All patients (17/17; 100 %) were correctly identified as non-bleeders. Conclusion Both device and procedure proved to be safe and feasible. Larger studies will be necessary to evaluate the role of the sensor capsule in risk stratification of patients with acute UGIB.

A Case Report of a Gastric Schwannoma on the Lesser Curvature of the Stomach Presenting with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Introduction: Gastric schwannomas are extremely rare mesenchymal tumors that represent only 0.2% of all gastric neoplasms. These tumors arise from the Auerbach or Meissner’s plexus and are most commonly found incidentally. Of those presenting with a gastric schwannoma only 12.8% of patients will present with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Case Presentation: In this report, we present the case of a 51 year old female with signs and symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding from a gastric schwannoma. The patient’s computed tomography revealed a 6.4 x 5.7 cm mass on the lesser curvature of the stomach near the pylorus. She subsequently underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with endoscopic ultrasound and fine needle aspiration revealing SMMS-1, Pankeratin, CD34, DOG-1, and CD117 negative immunohistochemical stains, which suggested a spindle cell neoplasm. The patient’s tumor was surgically resected two weeks later via laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with gastrojejunostomy. On immunohistochemistry, the tumor stained positive for S100, suggesting a gastric schwannoma. The patient’s postoperative course was complicated by possible early dumping syndrome which resolved in one week with dietary changes. She is tolerating regular food on follow-up and doing well. Discussion: With only a handful of reported cases, the need for inclusion of gastric schwannomas to the differential diagnosis of a bleeding gastric mass is essential. From these figures the likelihood of a patient with a gastric mass and upper gastrointestinal bleeding being caused by a gastric schwannoma is 0.026%. This points to the fact that this patient presentation is extremely rare but that gastric schwannomas do occur and need to be on the differential diagnosis of a patient with a gastric mass and signs of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.