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Background: The prognosis comparison between endoscopic therapy + partial splenic embolization (PSE) and Hassab's operation is unclear in the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. This study aimed to compare the outcome of endoscopic therapy + PSE (EP) with a combination of splenectomy + pericardial devascularization procedure, known as Hassab's operation (SH) for esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis with hypersplenism. Methods: We enrolled 328 patients, including 125 and 203 patients who underwent EP and SH, respectively. Each group consisted of 110 patients after propensity score matching (PSM). Subsequently, we recorded and analyzed bleeding episodes and mortality in 6 months and 1, 2, and 5 years after therapies. Results: The median follow-up time in the EP and SH groups was 53 and 64 months, respectively. Bleeding incidence 6 months after therapies in the EP group was lower than that in the SH group (1.8% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.010). Additionally, complications in the perioperative period were not significantly different (0% vs. 3.6%, P = 0.008). However, the bleeding rate between the two groups was not significantly different at 1, 2, and 5 years after therapies (7.3% vs. 12.7%, P = 0.157; 10.9% vs. 16.4%, P = 0.205; 30.6% vs. 31.8%, P = 0.801), as well as mortality rate (4.5% vs 7.3%, P = 0.571). Conclusion: Compared with SH therapy, the bleeding rate 6 months after EP therapy was lower, but the long-term bleeding rate was similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The growing incidence of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is leading to a rise in-hospital admissions even though most LGIB episodes are self-limiting. The Oakland and SHA2PE scores were designed to identify patients best suited to outpatient care. Our aim is explore the validity of the SHA2PE score and compare both of these scores in terms of predictiveness of safe discharge. Methods: Retrospective observational study of LGIB patients admitted to a tertiary hospital between June 2014 and June 2019. Safe discharge was defined as the absence of all the following: blood transfusion, haemostatic intervention, re-bleeding, in-hospital death, and re-admission due to LGIB within 28 days after discharge. Results: From 595 hospital admissions for LGIB, 398 episodes were included. Fifty-four per cent met safe discharge criteria, with these cases being younger, with a lower score in the Charlson's index and significantly higher haemoglobin concentration upon arrival. The performance of both scores was good, with an AUC for the Oakland score of 0.85 (95% CI 0.82–0.89) and of 0.797 (95% CI 0.75–0.84) for the SHA2PE score. The Oakland score performed better in terms of prediction of safe discharge, with a positive predictive value and specificity of 100% when a cut-off value of ≤ 8 points was used; however, only a minority of patients might benefit from its implementation given its low sensitivity. Conclusions: Almost half of the patients admitted for LGIB met criteria for safe discharge. However, the available indexes only allow for the identification of a small proportion of those patients candidates for outpatient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the Shock Index (SI) as a predictive tool for triage of gastrointestinal bleeding (GI) in the prehospital setting, assessing its correlation with mortality, admission rates, and hospital length of stay. In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from the ESO Data Collaborative encompassing EMS records from the year 2022, focusing on 1525 patients with a primary GI bleeding diagnosis. The primary measure was the SI, calculated at initial contact and highest recorded prior to ED arrival. Statistical analysis included t-tests, linear regression, and ROC curves, performed using SPSS v29. A significantly higher mean SI was observed in patients who died (mean SI 0.997) compared to survivors (mean SI 0.795), p < 0.001. Admission rates also correlated with higher SI values, p < 0.001. However, SI was not predictive of the hospital length of stay. ROC analysis for mortality prediction yielded an AUC of 0.656 for the initial SI and 0.739 for the highest SI. The standard SI cutoff of 0.9 predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 74.14% and specificity of 55.35% for the highest SI. The SI is a valuable predictive tool for mortality among prehospital patients with GI bleeding. Its application may improve the triage process, potentially influencing transport decisions and initial hospital care. Despite its predictive capability for mortality, the SI should be supplemented with other clinical assessments to make comprehensive prehospital care decisions. Further research into SI as part of a comprehensive assessment which includes end-title CO2, mentation, and heaviness of bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dieulafoy's lesion (DL) is a rare and important cause of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (ANVUGIB), however, there is a lack of clear guidelines focus on the endoscopic hemostasis treatment for DL. Sclerotherapy, as the ANVUGIB guideline recommended endoscopic hemostasis method, is widely used in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of sclerotherapy as the initial treatment for Dieulafoy's lesion of the upper gastrointestinal tract (UDL). Methods: Patients with UDL who underwent the ANVUGIB standard endoscopic hemostasis between April 2007 and January 2023 were enrolled. The endoscopic therapy method was left to the discretion of the endoscopist. Results: In total, 219 patients were finally obtained, with 74 (33.8%) receiving sclerotherapy and 145 (66.2%) receiving other standard endoscopic therapy. The rebleeding within 30 days was significantly lower in the sclerotherapy group compared to the other standard group (5.8% vs. 16.8%, p = 0.047). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of successful hemostasis rate (93.2% vs. 94.5%, p = 0.713), median number of red blood cell transfusions (3.5 vs. 4.0 units, p = 0.257), median hospital stay (8.0 vs. 8.0 days, p = 0.103), transferred to ICU rate (8.1% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.598), the need for embolization or surgery rate (12.2% vs. 9.7%, p = 0.567) and 30-day mortality (0 vs. 2.1%, p = 0.553). In addition, we found no difference in efficacy between sclerotherapy alone and combination (3.1% vs. 8.1%, p = 0.714). Further analysis revealed that thermocoagulation for hemostasis was associated with a higher rate of rebleeding (28.6% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.042) and longer hospital stay (11.5 vs. 7.5 days, p = 0.005) compared to sclerotherapy alone. Conclusion: Sclerotherapy represents an effective endoscopic therapy for both alone and combined use in patients with upper gastrointestinal Dieulafoy's lesion. Therefore, sclerotherapy could be considered as initial treatment in patients with bleeding of UDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a previously healthy 4-year-old girl who developed bloody diarrhea due to a Vibrio cholerae infection, highlighting the clinical features, diagnostic process, and treatment approach. Topics discussed include the role of oral rehydration therapy and antibiotics in managing cholera, the significance of total parenteral nutrition in severe cases, and the implications of antibiotic resistance in treatment decisions.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is known to benefit patients with decompensated liver disease by alleviating portal pressure. However, TIPS creation is technically difficult and challenging to perform in patients with chronic portal vein thrombosis (PVT) (4,5). Multiple endovascular techniques for portal vein recanalization with or without creating portosystemic shunt are available to decompress and alleviate portal hypertension in patients with PVT. In this case series, we represent TIPS extension to create an endovascular mesocaval shunt for the treatment of refractory upper gastrointestinal bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding (SUGIB) is a common issue during ICU stay. In the absence of specific guidelines on the indication and timing of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), there is substantial variability in EGD indication depending on accessibility and clinical presentation. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with the need for per-EGD hemostatic therapy and to create a score predicting therapeutic benefit of emergency bedside EGD in ICU patients with SUGIB. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in our ICU to identify factors associated with the need for hemostatic procedure during EGD performed for SUGIB. From this observational cohort, we derived a score predicting the need for hemostasis during EGD, the SUGIBI score. This score was subsequently validated in a retrospective multicenter cohort. Results: Two hundred fifty-five patients not primarily admitted for GI bleeding who underwent a bedside EGD for SUGIB during their ICU stay were analyzed. The preeminent EGD indication were anemia (79%), melena (19%), shock (14%), and hematemesis (13%). EGD was normal in 24.7% of cases, while primary lesions reported were ulcers (23.1%), esophagitis (18.8%), and gastritis (12.5%). Only 12.9% of patients underwent hemostatic endotherapy during EGD. A SUGIBI score < 4 had a negative predictive value of 95% (91–99) for hemostatic endotherapy [AUC of 0.81; 0.75–0.91 (p < 0.0001)]. The SUGIBI score for predicting the need for an EGD-guided hemostatic procedure was next validated in a multicenter cohort with an AUC of 0.75 (0.66–0.85) (p < 0.0001), a score < 4 having a negative predictive value of 95% (92–97). Conclusions: Our study shows that the therapeutic usefulness of bedside emergency EGD for SUGIB in critically ill patients is limited to a minority of patients. The SUGIBI score should help clinicians stratify the probability of a therapeutic EGD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different conditions may underlie gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in children. The estimated prevalence of GIB in children is 6.4%, with spontaneous resolution in approximately 80% of cases. Nonetheless, the initial approach plays a pivotal role in determining the prognosis. The priority is the stabilization of hemodynamic status, followed by a systematic diagnostic approach. GIB can originate from either upper or lower gastrointestinal tract, leading to a broad differential diagnosis in infants and children. This includes benign and self-limiting disorders, alongside serious conditions necessitating immediate treatment. We performed a nonsystematic review of the literature, in order to describe the variety of conditions responsible for GIB in pediatric patients and to outline diagnostic pathways according to patients' age, suspected site of bleeding and type of bleeding which can help pediatricians in clinical practice. Diagnostic modalities may include esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy, abdominal ultrasonography or computed tomography and, when necessary, magnetic resonance imaging. In this review, we critically assess these procedures, emphasizing their respective advantages and limitations concerning specific clinical scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent work has shown that cluster-randomised trials can estimate two distinct estimands: the participant-average and cluster-average treatment effects. These can differ when participant outcomes or the treatment effect depends on the cluster size (termed informative cluster size). In this case, estimators that target one estimand (such as the analysis of unweighted cluster-level summaries, which targets the cluster-average effect) may be biased for the other. Furthermore, commonly used estimators such as mixed-effects models or generalised estimating equations with an exchangeable correlation structure can be biased for both estimands. However, there has been little empirical research into whether informative cluster size is likely to occur in practice. Method: We re-analysed a cluster-randomised trial comparing two different thresholds for red blood cell transfusion in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding to explore whether estimates for the participant- and cluster-average effects differed, to provide empirical evidence for whether informative cluster size may be present. For each outcome, we first estimated a participant-average effect using independence estimating equations, which are unbiased under informative cluster size. We then compared this to two further methods: (1) a cluster-average effect estimated using either weighted independence estimating equations or unweighted cluster-level summaries, and (2) estimates from a mixed-effects model or generalised estimating equations with an exchangeable correlation structure. We then performed a small simulation study to evaluate whether observed differences between cluster- and participant-average estimates were likely to occur even if no informative cluster size was present. Results: For most outcomes, treatment effect estimates from different methods were similar. However, differences of >10% occurred between participant- and cluster-average estimates for 5 of 17 outcomes (29%). We also observed several notable differences between estimates from mixed-effects models or generalised estimating equations with an exchangeable correlation structure and those based on independence estimating equations. For example, for the EQ-5D VAS score, the independence estimating equation estimate of the participant-average difference was 4.15 (95% confidence interval: −3.37 to 11.66), compared with 2.84 (95% confidence interval: −7.37 to 13.04) for the cluster-average independence estimating equation estimate, and 3.23 (95% confidence interval: −6.70 to 13.16) from a mixed-effects model. Similarly, for thromboembolic/ischaemic events, the independence estimating equation estimate for the participant-average odds ratio was 0.43 (95% confidence interval: 0.07 to 2.48), compared with 0.33 (95% confidence interval: 0.06 to 1.77) from the cluster-average estimator. Conclusion: In this re-analysis, we found that estimates from the various approaches could differ, which may be due to the presence of informative cluster size. Careful consideration of the estimand and the plausibility of assumptions underpinning each estimator can help ensure an appropriate analysis methods are used. Independence estimating equations and the analysis of cluster-level summaries (with appropriate weighting for each to correspond to either the participant-average or cluster-average treatment effect) are a desirable choice when informative cluster size is deemed possible, due to their unbiasedness in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented that emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between motion and progress in medical interventions, particularly urgent colonoscopies for acute lower gastro-intestinal bleeding (LGIB). It states that despite initial assumptions that urgent colonoscopy improves patient outcomes, recent evidence suggests otherwise, prompting a reevaluation of clinical practices in managing LGIB.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with gastric coronary vein embolization (GCVE) for cirrhotic portal hypertensive variceal bleeding and compare outcomes of first-line with second-line treatment, coil with glue, and single-covered with double stents. Methods: Fifteen patients received TIPS plus GCVE as the first-line treatment for secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding, and 45 received it as second-line treatment. Preoperative and postoperative quantitative variables were compared using a paired t test. The incidence of survival rate, re-bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, and shunt dysfunction were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The portal venous pressure was significantly decreased from 39.0 ± 5.0 mm Hg to 22.5 ± 4.4 mm Hg (P≤0.001) after TIPS treatment. After 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months re-bleeding rates were 1.6%, 3.3%, 6.6%, 13.3%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. Shunt dysfunction rates were 5%, 0%, 10%, 16.6%, 1.6%, and 5%, respectively. Hepatic encephalopathy rates were 3.3%, 1.6%, 3.3%, 6.6%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. And survival rates were 100%, 100%, 100%, 96.6%, 93.3%, and 88.3% respectively. In comparative analysis, statistically significant differences were seen in re-bleeding between the first-line and second-line treatment groups (26.6% vs 24.4%, log-rank P=0.012), and survival rates between single-covered and double stent (3.7% vs 16.1%, log-rang (P=0.043). Conclusion: The results suggest that TIPS combined with GCVE is effective and safer in the treatment of cirrhotic portal hypertensive variceal bleeding. The use of TIP plus GCVE as first-line treatment, may be preferable for high-risk re-bleeding, and more than 25 mm Hg portal venous pressure with repeated variceal bleeding. However, the sample size was small. Therefore, large, randomized, controlled, multidisciplinary center studies are needed for further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are recommended for the prevention of thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and are now preferred over vitamin K antagonists due to their beneficial efficacy and safety profile. However, all oral anticoagulants carry a risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Although the risk is well documented and acute bleeding well codified, there is limited high-quality evidence and no guidelines to guide physicians on the optimal management of anticoagulation after a GI bleeding event. The aim of this review is to provide a multidisciplinary critical discussion of the optimal management of GI bleeding in patients with AF receiving oral anticoagulants to help physicians provide individualized treatment for each patient and optimize outcomes. It is important to perform endoscopy when a patient presents with bleeding manifestations or hemodynamic instability to determine the bleed location and severity of bleeding and then perform initial resuscitation. Administration of all anticoagulants and antiplatelets should be stopped and bleeding allowed to resolve with time; however, anticoagulant reversal should be considered for patients who have life-threatening bleeding or when the bleeding is not controlled by the initial resuscitation. Anticoagulation needs to be timely resumed considering that bleeding risk outweighs thrombotic risk when anticoagulation is resumed early after the bleeding event. To prevent further bleeding, physicians should prescribe anticoagulant therapy with the lowest risk of GI bleeding, avoid medications with GI toxicity, and consider the effect of concomitant medications on potentiating the bleeding risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is one of the most important diseases in internal medicine, which can occur due to bleeding in any of the gastrointestinal organs. The best diagnostic method for identifying the source of bleeding in patients is endoscopy and colonoscopy. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the causes and the most common risk factors for GIB in patients referring to Shahid Mustafa Khomeini Hospital in Ilam. Material & Methods: In this retrospective analytical study, all patients with clear gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms, including melena, hematemesis, hematochezia, and passing clots, who referred to Shahid Mustafa Khomeini Hospital in Ilam from 2014 to 2019, were evaluated. The demographic information of the patients, their medical history, and the description of the medications they were taking, which were recorded in their medical records, were entered into the questionnaire form. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Findings: In this study, 650 patients with an average age of 57.24 years, ranging from 19 to 99 years, were included. The majority of patients were in the older age group (above 60 years) and were male. The most common complaint among patients was hematemesis (41.4%), while anemia was the least common complaint (1.8%). The most common causes of gastrointestinal bleeding in both genders were peptic ulcer, gastric mass, and esophageal varices. There was a significant correlation between age and gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms (p < 0.05). Gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms, including hematemesis, melena, and rectorrhagia, were more common in men and in smokers. Alcohol consumption also had an impact on the occurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding with hematemesis, melena, and rectorrhagia. Discussion & Conclusion: Endoscopy and colonoscopy are the best diagnostic methods for patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the causes and the most common risk factors for GIB in patients referring to Shahid Mustafa Khomeini Hospital in Ilam from 2014 to 2019. The findings of this study can help improve the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal bleeding in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a review of scientific literature on the main causes of rectal bleeding in pregnant women. Anatomical, biochemical and hormonal changes during pregnancy often lead to the progression of typical benign diseases (chronic hemorrhoids, anal fissure, etc.), radical surgical treatment of which can be carried out in the puerperal period. However, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or malignant colorectal polyps can be triggered by pregnancy and affect its course – this requires immediate examination and drug therapy. Pregnancy causes many physiological changes that affect the interpretation of routine biochemical and hematological examination methods. It is known that pregnancy requires increased iron content, the pregnancy courses often with anemia. The erythrocytes sedimentation rate varies significantly depending on the severity of anemia and the pregnancy term. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully analyze the main clinical manifestations of various intraluminal diseases that can potentially cause rectal bleeding in pregnant women. This article also describes the directions of diagnostic search and treatment strategy of rectal bleeding during pregnancy. Chronic hemorrhoids often accompany pregnancy in the third trimester. Some researchers indicate that up to 75% of pregnant women have complaints which are typical for chronic hemorrhoids. An anal fissure in lateral positions should cause suspicion of Crohn’s disease, tuberculosis, syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, dermatological diseases (most often psoriasis) and anal carcinoma. Bleeding in sexually acquired proctitis is usually mild and is often accompanied by minor purulent discharge. Rectal bleeding can be a sign of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s proctitis or sigmoiditis, but it is more typical for ulcerative colitis Other associated clinical features are diarrhea, abdominal pain, urge to defecate, and specific extraintestinal manifestations (peripheral arthropathy, sacroiliitis, ankylosing spondylitis, conjunctivitis, iridocyclitis, episcleritis, aphthous skin ulcers, erythema nodosum, or pyoderma gangrenosum). If the bleeding is caused by a benign polyp, endoscopic polypectomy solves the bleeding problem. Therefore, rectal bleeding in pregnant women is diagnosed quite often. In most cases, it is caused by benign diseases of the rectum (chronic hemorrhoids or anal fissure), which are amenable to conservative therapy and usually do not threaten the life and health of a woman or a child. However, there is a rate of pregnant women whose rectal bleeding is caused by colorectal diseases, which require a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment. In these women, the benefit and risk should be determined when choosing a diagnostic and treatment algorithm. Keywords: pregnancy, rectal bleeding, chronic hemorrhoids, anal fissure, sexually transmitted infections, inflammatory bowel diseases, colorectal polyp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Pediatric Emergency & Intensive Care Medicine / Çocuk Acil ve Voğun Bakım Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although rectal bleeding in infants is often minor, either as the result of swallowed maternal blood or anal fissure there is the potential for the patient to be significantly unwell and require urgent management. This article discusses common and rarer but not to be missed causes of rectal bleeding in infants and their immediate management. The aim is to provide a guide for the general paediatrician. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Balikesir Health Sciences Journal / Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Balikesir Health Sciences Journal (BAUN Health Sci J) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Herein, our group designed a novel technology, termed balloon compression-assisted endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (bc-EIS), which was applied to improve the efficiency of eradicating esophageal varices (EVs). The present study aimed to compare the rate of eradication and efficacy between bc-EIS and endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) in the management of EVs.Methods: Ninety-five patients with esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) were randomly assigned to receive bc-EIS or ligation alone. Additional treatment sessions were held 1 month later and then at 3-month intervals until eradication of the varices was achieved. Endoscopic follow-up examinations were carried out at 6-month intervals in the absence of recurrence or immediately if there was any recurrent bleeding.Results: The mean physical injection points per session were 2.89 ± 0.79, and the mean volume of lauromacrogol used per session was 17.74 ± 7.09 ml in the bc-EIS group. The mean band per session was 6.13 ± 0.86. The rate of eradication after one to three rounds of bc-EIS was obviously higher than that of the EVL group (89.36%, 97.87%, and 100% vs. 37.5%, 43.75%, and 47.92%, respectively). Retrosternal pain or discomfort in the bc-EIS group was slightly lower than that in the EVL group (23.4%, 11/47 vs. 31.25%, 15/48). Two and five patients showed mild abdominal bloating and distension between the bc-EIS and EVL groups, respectively (2/47, 4.26% vs. 5/48, 10.42% P > 0.05). Nausea and vomiting were reported in one patient (1/47, 2.13%) in the bc-EIS group and three patients (3/48, 6.25%) in the EVL group. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). No fatal or severe complications, such as esophageal perforation, esophageal stricture or ectopic embolism, were observed.Conclusion: The bc-EIS method was effective in eradicating EVs and was accompanied by fewer complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice is the property of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice (Editorial Board, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Guidelines for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) recommend use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) administered by continuous IV infusion (CI). Although data suggest comparable outcomes with CI and IV push (IVP) dosing post-endoscopy, there are limited data to support IVP PPI as the pre-endoscopy regimen. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-managed protocol for reducing PPI CIs and substitution of PPI IVP dosing in hemodynamically stable patients with suspected acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) prior to endoscopic intervention. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective study; Tertiary-care community teaching hospital; Hemodynamically stable adults with confirmed or suspected UGIB. Hemodynamic stability was defined as a systolic blood pressure >90 mmHg, heart rate <100 beats, mean arterial pressure >65 mmHg, and no requirement for vasopressors. Intervention : All iterations of treatment recommendations encouraged an initial pantoprazole 80 mg IVP dose. In the pre-intervention group, patients were then treated at the at the provider's discretion with the majority receiving CI pantoprazole. After implementation of the original protocol (Phase I), all hemodynamically stable patients were allowed 1 bag of CI pantoprazole (80 mg infused over 10 hours) before being transitioned by the pharmacist to pantoprazole 40 mg IVP every 12 hours. After internal analysis, the protocol was revised to allow patients to be immediately transitioned to IVP dosing without an initial CI (Phase II). Main Outcome: Incidence of continued bleeding or re-bleeding within 7 days of initial PPI dose. Results: A total of 325 patients were included across all 3 study phases. The median number of CI bags per patient was reduced from 4 pre-intervention, to 1.5 in phase I, and to 0 in phase II (P <.001). The primary endpoint of continued bleeding or re-bleeding within 7 days was similar across all 3 groups (5.0% vs 6.5% vs 5.2%, P =.92). Mean intravenous pantoprazole costs were reduced by $21.73/patient. Conclusions: Movement toward preferential use of IVP PPI prior to endoscopy for hemodynamically stable patients with confirmed or suspected UGIBs resulted in similar rates of continued bleeding or re-bleeding and generated modest cost savings. These findings warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice is the property of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice (Editorial Board, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Acquired von Willebrand disease (avWD) arises because of mechanisms that destroy, decrease, absorb, or clear von Willebrand factor (vWF). A 59-year-old man presented with a 3-year history of recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding. Laboratory workup revealed a prolonged platelet function assay-100. The vWF antigen was decreased, and a low vWF immunofunctional activity/antigen ratio, low collagen binding/antigen ratio, and decreased intermediate and high molecular weight multimers were noted. The patient had no high-shear stress conditions, and an antibody-mediated process was suspected. A vWF mixing study showed complete correction of vWF activity, suggesting no direct functional inhibitor. The patient was given a bolus of vWF concentrate with serial measurements of vWF; the vWF half-life was 2.5 hours. The vWF propeptide/antigen ratio was 4:1, supporting a diagnosis of aVWD resulting from increased antibody-mediated vWF clearance. This case study emphasizes the laboratory's role in the diagnosis and treatment of rare, overlooked acquired bleeding disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice is the property of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice (Editorial Board, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and Aims: Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a common cause of emergency hospitalization and may require readmission for re-bleeding. Recently, a novel endoscopic hemostatic powder (UI-EWD/Nexpowder™, Nextbiomedical, Incheon, South Korea) was developed and applied for the control of LGIB. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemostatic efficacy and long-term safety of UI-EWD in LGIB.Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of LGIB at a single tertiary center in south Korea. One hundred and sixty-seven consecutive patients with LGIB who were initially successful in endoscopic hemostasis were included and divided into the conventional treatment group (n = 112) and the UI-EWD therapy group (n = 55; 38 patients with conventional treatment and 17 patients with UI-EWD alone). The success rate of hemostasis, adverse events related to UI-EWD, and re-bleeding rate were evaluated.Results: The incidence of endoscopic hemostasis applied to the hepatic flexure (7.3% vs. 0%, p = 0.011) and larger than 4 cm (25.5% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.002) were significantly higher in the UI-EWD group than in the conventional therapy group. The cumulative rebleeding rate within 28 days in the UI-EWD group was 5.5% (3/55), which was significantly lower than that in the conventional treatment group (17.0% [19/112]; p = 0.039). No UI-EWD-related adverse events were recorded.Conclusion: Based on our results, application of UI-EWD in LGIB showed promising results for the prevention of re-bleeding, especially in locations where it is difficult to approach or cases with more bleeding. There were no significant complications, such as perforation or embolism. In particular, UI-EWD should be considered first for anatomical or technical impediments to endoscopic access in LGIB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Massive hemobilia is a life-threatening condition and therapeutic challenge. Few studies have demonstrated the use of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for massive hemobilia. Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) using NBCA Glubran 2 for massive hemobilia. Material and Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2019, the data of 26 patients (mean age 63.4 ± 12.6 years) with massive hemobilia were retrospectively evaluated for TAE using NBCA. The patients' baseline characteristics, severities of hemobilia, and imaging findings were collected. Emergent TAE was performed using 1:2–1:4 mixtures of NBCA and ethiodized oil. Technical success, clinical success, procedure-related complications, and follow-up outcomes were assessed. Results: Pre-procedure arteriography demonstrated injuries to the right hepatic artery (n = 24) and cystic artery (n = 2). Initial coil embolization distal to the lesions was required in 5 (19.2%) patients to control high blood flow and prevent end-organ damage. After a mean treatment time of 11.2 ± 5.3 min, technical success was achieved in 100% of the patients without non-target embolization and catheter adhesion. Clinical success was achieved in 25 (96.2%) patients. Major complications were noted in 1 (3.8%) patient with gallbladder necrosis. During a median follow-up time of 16.5 months (range 3–24 months), two patients died due to carcinomas, whereas none of the patients experienced recurrent hemobilia, embolic material migration, or post-embolization complications. Conclusion: NBCA embolization for massive hemobilia is associated with rapid and effective hemostasis, as well as few major complications. This treatment modality may be a promising alternative to coil embolization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common clinical entity. Expert management of acute GIB requires collaborative care between internists and other specialists. This article reviews the presentation, treatment, and prevention of acute GIB using recommendations from recent guidelines and expert panel reviews. The article acknowledges the pivotal role played by primary care providers in the inpatient and outpatient management of acute GIB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effectiveness of the hemostatic powder TC-325 as a single endoscopic treatment for acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding is uncertain.Objective: To compare TC-325 with standard endoscopic hemostatic treatments in the control of active bleeding from nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal causes.Design: One-sided, noninferiority, randomized, controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02534571).Setting: University teaching hospitals in the Asia-Pacific region.Patients: 224 adult patients with acute bleeding from a nonvariceal cause on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.Intervention: TC-325 (n = 111) or standard hemostatic treatment (n = 113).Measurements: The primary outcome was control of bleeding within 30 days. Other outcomes included failure to control bleeding during index endoscopy, recurrent bleeding after initial hemostasis, further interventions, blood transfusion, hospitalization, and death.Results: 224 patients were enrolled (136 with gastroduodenal ulcers [60.7%], 33 with tumors [14.7%], and 55 with other causes of bleeding [24.6%]). Bleeding was controlled within 30 days in 100 of 111 patients (90.1%) in the TC-325 group and 92 of 113 (81.4%) in the standard treatment group (risk difference, 8.7 percentage points [1-sided 95% CI, 0.95 percentage point]). There were fewer failures of hemostasis during index endoscopy with TC-325 (3 [2.7%] vs. 11 [9.7%]; odds ratio, 0.26 [CI, 0.07 to 0.95]). Recurrent bleeding within 30 days did not differ between groups (9 [8.1%] vs. 10 [8.8%]). The need for further interventions also did not differ between groups (further endoscopic treatment: 8 [7.2%] vs. 10 [8.8%]; angiography: 2 [1.8%] vs. 4 [3.5%]; surgery: 1 [0.9%] vs. 0). There were 14 deaths in each group (12.6% vs. 12.4%).Limitation: Clinicians were not blinded to treatment.Conclusion: TC-325 is not inferior to standard treatment in the endoscopic control of bleeding from nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal causes.Primary Funding Source: General Research Fund to the University Grants Committee, Hong Kong SAR Government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Critical peptic ulcer bleeding requiring massive transfusion is a gastroenterological emergency. Few data exist on management and outcomes. The Australian and New Zealand Massive Transfusion Registry collects comprehensive data on adult patients receiving massive transfusion across all bleeding contexts. Aim: To evaluate clinical factors, management (procedural interventions, transfusions) and outcomes after massive transfusion for critical peptic ulcer bleeding. Method: Demographics, diagnosis, procedures and mortality data were available for 5482 massive transfusion cases from 23 hospitals. International Classification of Diseases 10th Edition, Australian Modification codes were used to determine peptic ulcer bleeding and the Australian Classification of Health Intervention for interventions (i.e. endoscopic, radiological, surgical). Results: Peptic ulcer bleeding accounted for 270 (4.9%) of all in‐hospital massive transfusion cases; 70% were male. Median number of red blood cell (RBC) units transfused was 7 (interquartile range, 6–10). Thirty‐day mortality was 19.6%. Age (75 vs 67 years; P = 0.009) and Charlson Comorbidity Index (3 vs 1; P < 0.001) were higher in those who died. Highest 24‐h international normalised ratio (1.5 vs 1.4; P < 0.001) and creatinine (118 μmol/L vs 96 μmol/L; P = 0.03) and nadir platelet count (86 × 109/L vs 118 × 109/L; P = 0.01) were also associated with 30‐day mortality. There were no differences in mortality according to number of RBC, platelets or plasma units transfused, gastroscopy (with or without intervention), interventional radiology or surgery. Conclusion: One in five patients with critical peptic ulcer bleeding requiring massive transfusion died by 30 days. Mortality was associated with patient characteristics rather than clinical interventions (e.g. procedures, blood product transfusion). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common medical emergency with significant mortality. Despite developments in endoscopic and clinical management, only minor improvements in outcomes have been reported.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with non-malignant UGIB emergency admissions in England between 2003 and 2015, using Hospital Episode Statistics. Multilevel logistic regression analysis examined the associations with mortality.Results: 242 796 patients with an UGIB admission were identified (58.8 % men; median age 70 [interquartile range (IQR) 53 - 81]). Between 2003 and 2015, falls occurred in both 30-day mortality (7.5 % to 7.0 %; P < 0.001) and age-standardized mortality (odds ratio (OR) 0.74, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.69 - 0.80; P < 0.001), including from variceal bleeding (OR 0.63, 95 %CI 0.45 - 0.87; P < 0.005). Increasing co-morbidity (Charlson score > 5, OR 2.94, 95 %CI 2.85 - 3.04; P < 0.001), older age (> 83 years, OR 6.50, 95 %CI 6.09 - 6.94; P < 0.001), variceal bleeding (OR 2.03, 95 %CI 1.89 - 2.18; P < 0.001), and a weekend admission (Sunday, OR 1.18, 95 %CI 1.12 - 1.23; P < 0.001) were associated with 30-day mortality. Of deaths at 30 days, 8.9 % were from ischemic heart disease (IHD) and the cardiovascular age-standardized mortality rate following UGIB was high (IHD deaths within 1 year, 1188.4 [95 %CI 1036.8 - 1353.8] per 100 000 men in 2003).Conclusions: Between 2003 and 2015, 30-day mortality among emergency admissions with non-malignant UGIB fell by 0.5 % to 7.0 %. Mortality was higher among UGIB admissions at the weekend, with important implications for service provision. Patients with UGIB had a much greater risk of subsequently dying from cardiovascular disease and addressing this risk is a key management step in UGIB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding defines blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract, situated above the ligament of Treitz. Presenting symptoms may include hematemesis, melena or hematochezia. Weakness, fatigue, orthostatic hypotension or syncope can also be associated due to potential severe blood loss. Risk factors include anticoagulant use, high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, active Helicobacter pylori infection, gastritis and peptic ulcers. Case Report: Our case: 43 years old male, with a recent history of peptic ulcer under treatment, presented in the emergency department accusing melena (starting 5 days prior to consultation) and syncope. Paraclinical investigations: Hb 7.2 g/dl (severe secondary anemia), urea 64 mg/dl. Through the nasogastric tube stasis liquid was evacuated, while rectal examination was positive for melena. Upper gastroesophageal endoscopy disclosed the presence of erosive gastritis, posterior-bulbar duodenal ulcer (Forrest 2A class) and sliding hiatal hernia. The patient was admitted to the Gastroenterology Department and received the following treatment: Pantoprazole, Carbazocrome and Etamsylate. During the hospitalization the patient received 2 units of transfusion blood, that progressively ameliorated his general status. Since the ulcer was endoscopically described as non-bleeding, but with a visible vessel, multiple attempts in clamping the hemorrhage source were performed, but without success due to the difficult position. The medical treatment initiated consisted of Pantoprazole, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid for the gastric protection, and Amoxicillin, Levofloxacin and bismuth oxide for the H. Pylori infection, that was revealed by high serum IgG levels. Discussions : The erosive gastritis and the infection with H. Pylori are the main causes of the peptic ulcer, that may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding. The loss of blood and the severe secondary anemia culminated into an episode of syncope and therefore, when investigating such a hemorrhage, identifying its precise location is of great importance. The Forrest classification is used to predict the risk of further bleeding and to guide the gastroenterologist in finding the right approach, in particular if they should use endoscopic therapy. Current guidelines recommend this specific technique for ulcers with active spurting/oozing and for those with nonbleeding visible vessels (the case of our patient). Eradicating the bacterial infection is also essential for avoiding recurring episodes. Conclusions: Considering the potential complications of gastrointestinal bleeding, endoscopic exploration can be the key in finding the source of the hemorrhage. High volumes of blood can be lost, leading to severe hemodynamic effects. Not only the bleeding should receive treatment, but also the underlying pathology must be targeted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health related quality of life measurements are vital elements of public health surveillance that uncover unmet health needs and predict the success of health interventions. We described health related quality of life measurements using the EuroQoL 5-dimension (EQ-VAS/EQ-5D) instrument and associated factors among patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) and hepatic schistosomiasis at a rural health facility in the Albert Nile Basin, Uganda. Methods and materials: This was a cross-sectional study at Pakwach Health Centre IV. Participants included adult inpatients and outpatients with a history of UGIB and ultrasound evidence of hepatic schistosomiasis. We evaluated and recorded each participant's medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests results, ultrasound results, and endoscopy findings. We also recorded health related quality of life measurements using the EuroQoL 5-dimension instrument and derived disability weights from EQ-VAS and EQ-5D measurements. These were our dependent variables. Descriptive and inferential statistics were generated summarizing our findings. Results: We found 103 participants had a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Sixty percent were between the ages of 30–49 years, 59% were females, 74% were farmers, 92% had splenomegaly, 88% had varices at endoscopy, 22% were medical emergencies with acute variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and 62% had anemia. Measures of the different dimensions of health from 101 participants with patient reported outcomes revealed 77 (76%) participants experienced problems in self-care, 89 (88%) participants reported anxiety or depression, and 89 (88%) participants experienced pain or discomfort. The median EQ-VAS derived disability weights and median EQ-5D index-derived disability weights were 0.3 and 0.34, respectively. Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, praziquantel drug treatment, and age by decade predicted higher EQ-VAS derived disability weights (p value < 0.05). Under weight (Body mass index ≤ 18.5), acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, age by decade, female gender, and praziquantel drug treatment predicted higher EQ-5D index- derived disability weights (p value < 0.05). Conclusion: Adult patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hepatic schistosomiasis from this primary health facility experience poor health and considerable health loss. Several factors predicted increased health loss. These factors probably represent key areas of health intervention towards mitigating increased health loss in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of retrograde transvenous obliteration (RTO) for the prevention of variceal rebleeding variceal rebleeding in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Materials and Methods: This multicentre retrospective study enrolled 79 patients with HCC who underwent RTO for the prevention of variceal rebleeding. Successful occlusion of the gastrorenal shunt and obliteration of the gastric varices were achieved in 74 patients, with a technical success rate of 93.7%. Of the remaining 74 patients (mean age, 64.9±10.3 years; 56 men), 66 (90.4%) had gastroesophageal varices and seven (9.6%) had isolated gastric varices. Thirty-two patients (43.8%) underwent balloon-occluded RTO, 40 patients (54.8%) underwent plug-assisted RTO, and one patient (1.4%) underwent coil-assisted RTO. No patients had major procedural complications.Results: Rebleeding occurred in seven patients (9.6%) during the follow-up period. The 6-week and 1-year actuarial probabilities of patients remaining free of rebleeding were 90.8±3.6% and 88.6±4.1%, respectively. The median survival was 12.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 8-17.3) months. The 6-week, 1-year, and 3-year actuarial probabilities of survival were 83.2±4.4%, 51.1±6.6%, and 32.7±7%, respectively. New or worsening ascites and oesophageal varices occurred in 12 (16.4%) and 13 patients (17.8%), respectively, during the follow-up period. Overt hepatic encephalopathy occurred in one patient (1.4%) during the follow-up period. The Child-Pugh score remained comparable to that at baseline at 1 and 3 months.Conclusion: RTO was effective and safe in preventing variceal rebleeding in patients with HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rectal bleeding is a common symptom experienced by pregnant women. Although the majority of cases are attributable to benign conditions such as haemorrhoids and anal fissures, other more serious diagnoses such as inflammatory bowel disease and malignancy should not be overlooked. Most investigations are safe during pregnancy and these should not be withheld as significant implications on both fetal and maternal morbidity may result. In these cases, a multidisciplinary team approach is essential. This review explores the differential diagnosis, investigation and management of rectal bleeding during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyze the effects of trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) on portal hypertension and liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients with hemorrhage caused by portal hypertension and HCC who received TIPS and antitumor treatment were retrospectively analyzed. Trans-arterial chemoembolization, microwave ablation, target therapy, and immunetherapy or combined therapy were performed to treat HCC. Child-Pugh score was applied to estimate liver functions before and after TIPS. Shunting patency, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival were analyzed.Results: The median age was 58 (interquartile range: 52.5-62.5) years. The ratio with ascites before and after TIPS was 84.6% (11/13) and 7.7% (1/13), with P < 0.001. The ratio with Child-Pugh A before and after TIPS were 61.5% (8/13) and 84.6% (11/13) respectively, with P = 0.179. Mean portal vein pressure before and after TIPS was 27.85 ± 7.02 mmHg and 16.23 ± 6.61 mmHg, respectively, with P = 0.001. Two-year shunting patency rate was 61.5%. Median OS was 29.8 ± 11.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.8-36.7), and median progression-free survival was 20.2 ± 13.2 months (95% CI 12.2-28.1).Conclusion: TIPS could reduce ascites, down-regulate the Child-Pugh score, and give a chance for further anti-tumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) provides both diagnosis and treatment in overt obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). The aim of this study was to evaluate the rebleeding rate after DBE.Methods: This retrospective review was conducted between January 2006 and July 2018, 166 patients with overt OGIB who underwent DBE were enrolled. Therapeutic intervention was defined as endoscopic treatment, embolization, or surgery. Primary outcome was rebleeding rate after DBE. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on their DBE; (1) positive DBE requiring therapeutic intervention (G1), (2) positive DBE without therapeutic intervention required (G2) and (3) negative DBE (G3). Cumulative incidence of rebleeding was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression was used to assess the association of DBE with rebleeding risk. This study was approved by our Institutional Review Board.Results: Sixty-eight patients (41%) were categorized in G1, 34 patients (20%) in G2 and 64 patients (39%) in G3. Overall rebleeding occurred in 24 patients (15%). The cumulative incidence of rebleeding for G1 was the lowest. The 1-year and 2-year cumulative probability of developing rebleeding after DBE in G1 were 3.5% and 3.5%, 8.2% and 14.0% in G2, and 18.2% and 20.6% in G3, respectively (p = 0.02). After adjusting for bleeding severity and comorbidities, patients with positive DBE requiring therapeutic intervention had a significantly lower rate of rebleeding when compared with patients who did not receive intervention (hazard ratio 0.17; 95% CI 0.03-0.90).Conclusion: DBE-guided therapeutic intervention was associated with a lower risk of rebleeding when compared with those with negative and positive DBE without therapeutic intervention. One-fifth of patients with overt OGIB had false negative after DBE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cirrhosis is the fifth leading cause of death in adults. Advanced cirrhosis can cause significant portal hypertension (PH), which is responsible for many of the complications observed in patients with cirrhosis, such as varices. If portal pressure exceeds a certain threshold, the patient is at risk of developing life-threatening bleeding from varices. Variceal bleeding has a high incidence among patients with liver cirrhosis and carries a high risk of mortality and morbidity. The management of variceal bleeding is complex, often requiring a multidisciplinary approach involving pharmacological, endoscopic, and radiologic interventions. In terms of management, three stages can be considered: primary prophylaxis, active bleeding, and secondary prophylaxis. The main goal of primary and secondary prophylaxis is to prevent variceal bleeding. However, active variceal bleeding is a medical emergency that requires swift intervention to stop the bleeding and achieve durable hemostasis. We describe the pathophysiology of cirrhosis and PH to contextualize the formation of gastric and esophageal varices. We also discuss the currently available treatments and compare how they fare in each stage of clinical management, with a special focus on drugs that can prevent bleeding or assist in achieving hemostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common medical emergency associated with significant mortality. Transcatheter arterial embolization first was introduced by Rosch et al as an alternative to surgery for upper GI bleeding. The clinical success in patients with GI bleeding treated with transcatheter arterial embolization previously has been reported. However, there are no cost-effectiveness analyses reported to date. Here we report cost-effectiveness analysis of N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate glue (NBCA) and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx) versus coil (gold standard) for treatment of GI bleeding from a healthcare payer perspective.Methods: Fixed-effects modeling with a generalized linear mixed method was used in NBCA and coil intervention arms to determine the pooled probabilities of clinical success and mortality with complications with their confidence intervals, while the Clopper-Pearson model was used for Onyx to determine the same parameters. Models were provided by the "Meta-Analysis with R" software package. A decision tree was built for cost-effectiveness analysis, and Microsoft Excel was used for probabilistic sensitivity analysis. The cost-effective option was determined based on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and scatter plots of incremental cost versus incremental quality-adjusted life-years.Results: Comparing scatter plots and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio results, -$1024 and -$1349 per quality-adjusted life-year for Onyx and N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate glue, respectively, Onyx was the least expensive and most effective intervention.Conclusion: Onyx was the dominant strategy regardless of threshold values. Our analyses provide a framework for researchers to predict the target clinical effectiveness for early-stage TAE interventions and guide resource allocation decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcome of ultraselective transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with small-sized microcoils for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). Materials and methods: The subjects were 17 consecutive patients (mean age, 69 years) with LGIB who were treated with ultraselective TAE using small-sized microcoils between December 2013 and December 2019. Ultraselective TAE was defined as embolization of one or both of the long or short branches of the vasa recta. The etiologies of bleeding were colonic diverticulosis in 16 patients (94%) and malignancy in one patient (6%). The bleeding foci were in the ascending colon in 11 patients (65%), transverse colon in 2 patients (12%), and sigmoid colon in 4 patients (23%). A total of 18 branches (diameter: range 0.5–1.5 mm, mean 1.1 mm) of the vasa recta in 17 patients were embolized with small-sized microcoils (size range 1–3 mm, mean combined lengths of all microcoils 7.6 cm). The mean follow-up period was 19 months (range 1–80 months). The technical and clinical success rate, recurrent bleeding rate, major complications and long-term clinical outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Technical and clinical success was achieved in all patients (17/17). The rates of early recurrent bleeding (within 30 days of TAE) and major complications were 0% (0/17). Recurrent bleeding occurred in one patient at 2 months after TAE, but was stopped with conservative treatment. There were no other bleeding episodes or complications in the follow-up period. Conclusion: Ultraselective TAE with small-sized microcoils is a highly effective and safe treatment modality for LGIB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current ERC guidelines are the source of many positive changes, reduction of mortality, length of hospitalization and improvement of prognosis of STEMI patients. However, there is a small group of patients whose slight modification in guidelines would further reduce in-hospital mortality and hospitalization costs. These are patients with concomitant STEMI infarction and gastrointestinal bleeding.Methods: Two separate methods of treatment were compared in patients with concomitant gastrointestinal bleeding and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The first - traditional approach, in the line with the ESC guidelines, the second innovative, with priority for endoscopy.Results: Despite the innovative approach, the patient with endoscopy before PCI was discharged without complication. A patient who has undergone coronary intervention and who has been started on typical antiplatelet therapy prior to gastroenterological diagnosis has died due to massive bleeding.Conclusion: For ethical reasons and in connection with the cardiological guidelines of the management of ACS, a study of patients with ASC a high risk of intestinal bleeding, in which endoscopy will have priority, and only later PCI, will probably never be performed. Although, as the described case shows, despite exceeding the 90 minutes time to implement PCI (<120 minutes) in logistic terms such behavior is completely feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study aimed at comparing restrictive and liberal transfusion strategy in reducing mortality in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, open-label, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial conducted over two years. Patients presenting with UGIB were randomized into restrictive (hemoglobin (Hb) <7 g/dl) or liberal (Hb <8 g/dl) transfusion strategy groups. Transfusion was given till patients achieved target Hb of 9 g/dl in restrictive and 10 g/dl in the liberal arms. Patients with exsanguinating bleeding, transfusion within 90 days, recent history of trauma or surgery were excluded. Primary outcome was mortality rate and the secondary outcomes were morbidity, re-bleeding episodes and the need for intervention. Results: A total of 224 patients were randomized to 112 patients in each group. Demographic characteristics were comparable. 45-day mortality was similar between the two groups (restrictive vs. liberal; 10/112 vs. 12/112; P = 0.65). The number of in-hospital bleeding episodes (12 vs. 9; P = 0.25), incidence of re-bleeding during the 45-day follow-up (13 vs. 14; P = 0.84), need for endoscopic banding for varices (37/112 vs. 39/112, P = 0.99), mean hospital stay (days) (3.21 ± 2.78 vs. 2.73 ± 1.29; P = 0.10) were similar between the two groups. Conclusion: Restrictive transfusion strategy is non-inferior to liberal transfusion strategy in patients with UGIB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract in the prehospital setting is often a cause of a life-threatening condition. The vast majority of cases (80%) involve bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract and the mortality reaches even 14% of cases. It is then necessary to quickly diagnose and direct the patient for hospitalisation as the most effective treatment in the endoscopic therapy. The study aimed to analyse the profile of the patient referred to a hospital by a primary healthcare physician with suspicion and/or diagnosis of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors attempted to assess the initial laboratory results of critical parameters (RBC, HGB, HCT and PLT) of patients admitted on an emergency basis in 2017-2020 to the municipal hospital in Siedlce, Poland. The total number of patients with bleeding symptoms referred by a primary healthcare physician was 843. The inclusion procedure included patients referred on an emergency basis only (n=56). The statistical analysis was conducted by means of the Shapiro-Wilk test of normal distribution, Spearman's rho correlation and Chi-Square Tests of Independence. All results were regarded as significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The study included 32 males and 24 females referred in 60.71% of cases with the ICD-10 diagnosis of K92.2. The mean age of the patients was 65.02 years (SD±14.69). The mean hospitalisation time was 5.11 days (SD±12.14), both in males and females. The average blood test results in males were as follows: RBC: 3.28 106/μL; HGB: 9.26 g/dL; HCT: 27.94%; PLT: 229.13 10³/μL, while in females: RBC: 3.26 106/μL; HGB: 9.76 g/dL; HCT: 29.12%; PLT: 240.33 10³/μL. Therapy with packed red blood cells was significantly dependent on the level of RBC (p=0.000), HGB (p=0.001) and HCT (p=0.000). However, it was not dependent on PLT (p=0.141). A similar tendency was shown in the correlation of plasma therapy with critical values of selected laboratory tests (RBC: p=0,000; HGB: p=0.021; HCT: p=0.005; PLT: p=0.116). CONCLUSIONS: The hospitalisation of patients from the study group concerned mostly to older males, whose laboratory test results were usually much below the normal limits. Patients referred to hospital on an emergency basis usually warrant therapy related to deep anaemia. Despite a high survival rate, educational programmes aiming at early diagnosis of symptoms and implementation of diagnostics for bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract are to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Angiographic embolization is now considered the first-line therapy for acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding refractory to endoscopic therapy. The success of angiographic embolization depends on the detection of the bleeding site. This study aimed to identify the clinical and procedural predictors for the angiographic visualization of extravasation, including angiography timing, as well as analyze the outcomes of angiographic embolization according to the angiographic visualization of extravasation.Methods: The clinical and procedural data of 138 consecutive patients (mean age, 66.5 years; 65.9% men) who underwent angiography with or without embolization for acute non-variceal GI bleeding between February 2008 and July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.Results: Of the 138 patients, 58 (42%) had active extravasation on initial angiography and 113 (81.9%) underwent embolization. The angiographic visualization of extravasation was significantly higher in patients with diabetes (p = 0.036), a low platelet count (p = 0.048), high maximum heart rate (p = 0.002) and AIMS65 score (p = 0.026), upper GI bleeding (p = 0.025), and short time-to-angiography (p = 0.031). The angiographic embolization was successful in all angiograms, with angiographic visualization of extravasation (100%). The clinical success of patients without angiographic visualization of extravasation (83.9%) was significantly higher than that of patients with angiographic visualization of extravasation (65.5%) (p = 0.004). In multivariate analysis, the time-to-angiography (odds ratio 0.373 [95% CI 0.154-0.903], p = 0.029) was the only significant predictor associated with the angiographic visualization of extravasation. The cutoff value of time-to-angiography was 5.0 h, with a sensitivity and specificity of 79.3% and 47.5%, respectively (p = 0.012).Conclusions: Angiography timing is an important factor that is associated with the angiographic visualization of extravasation in patients with acute GI bleeding. Angiography should be performed early in the course of bleeding in critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this study was to compare the results of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with surgery in terms of efficacy in the context of bleeding duodenal ulcer (BDU) refractory to endoscopic treatment. Materials and methods: From January 2006 to December 2016, all patients treated for a BDU refractory to endoscopic treatment were included in this observational, comparative, retrospective, single-center study. Primary endpoint was the overall success of treatment of BDU requiring surgical and/or TAE. The secondary endpoints were pre-interventional data, recurrence rates, feasibility of secondary treatment, morbidity and mortality of surgical and radiological treatment, intensive care unit and length of stay. A systematic review of the literature was performed to compare results of surgery and TAE. Results: 59 out of 396 patients (14.9%) treated for BDU required embolization and/or surgery: 15 patients underwent surgery (group S) including 7 patients after embolization failure and 44 patients underwent TAE (group TAE). The overall treatment success in intention to treat (85.7% vs 67.3%), per protocol (80% vs 79.5%) and bleeding recurrence rates (20% vs 15.9%) were also identical. Mortality (14.2% vs 15.3%) was similar between the two groups. Our study data were pooled with data from eight published studies and suggest that surgery have significant increased overall success (68.3% vs. 55.4%, p < 0.005). Conclusion: The overall success rate was in favour of surgery according our meta-analysis. Our single-center study highlights the fact that predictive factors for recurrent bleeding after TAE must be identified to select good candidates for TAE and/or surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]