Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Considerable progress has been made in endoscopic hemostasis. Several methods are available. Sclerotherapy of esophageal varices is the procedure of choice for the control of active variceal hemorrhage and for the prevention of recurrent bleeding. For endoscopic treatment of nonvariceal gastrointestinal bleeding, the nonerosive contact probes (heater probes and BICAP) and injection sclerotherapy are preferred. Several hemostatic modalities should be available and applied depending on the anatomic location and type of bleeding lesions. Advanced endoscopic hemostatic techniques seem to be decreasing the mortality rates in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.     

Endoscopic electrohemostasis of active upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy for active upper gastrointestinal bleeding was performed in 160 patients. Endoscopic electrocautery for control of bleeding was considered in the last ninety patients and performed in seventy-one patients. All lesions except esophageal varices were candidates for electrohemostasis. The indications for endoscopic electrocautery were active hemorrhage and precise identification of the bleeding point. The preendoscopic blood loss ranged from 1,500 to 6,000 ml. All seventy-one patients had initial hemostasis and sixty-five (92 per cent) had permanent hemostasis after one treatment. Six patients rebled, and four of these had permanent hemostasis after a second endoscopic electrocauterization. Only two of seventy-one patients had emergency operations for bleeding. There were no complications. Endoscopic electrohemostasis is still an experimental technic which requires further laboratory study and testing before broad general clinical application. This clinical trial suggests that endoscopic electrocautery is an attractive method of controlling active upper gastrointestinal bleeding because it can be safe, effective, and rapid, and is available in most medical communities.     

Recent advances in endovascular techniques for management of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Over the past two decades,transcatheter arterial embolization has become the first-line therapy for the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding that is refractory to endoscopic hemostasis.Advances in catheter-based techniques and newer embolic agents, as well as recognition of the effectiveness of minimally invasive treatment options,have expanded the role of interventional radiology in the management of hemorrhage for a variety of indications,such as peptic ulcerbleeding,malignant disease,hemorrhagic Dieulafoy lesions and iatrogenic or trauma bleeding.Transcatheter interventions include the following:selective embolization of the feeding artery,sandwich coil occlusion of the gastroduodenal artery,blind or empiric embolization of the supposed bleeding vessel based on endoscopic findings and coil pseudoaneurysm or aneurysm embolization by three-dimensional sac packing with preservation of the parent artery.Transcatheter embolization is a fast,safe and effective,minimally invasive alternative to surgery when endoscopic treatment fails to control bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract.This article reviews the various transcatheter endovascular techniques and devices that are used in a variety of clinical scenarios for the management of hemorrhagic gastrointestinal emergencies.     

Interventional radiological treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding

Summary   Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is divided into upper and lower GI bleeding. The most common reasons for upper GI bleeding are gastric and duodenal ulcers. Lower GI bleeding is located in the intestine below the ligament of Treitz. In this review article the possibilities for interventional radiological treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding will be discussed. Methods: Interventional treatment in form of embolization of arterial branches of the celiac trunc is indicated if endoscopic approaches fail to stop the bleeding. Localization and treatment of lower GI bleeding is more difficult and technically more demanding. Embolization of mesenteric branches may be effective to stop bleeding but carries the risk of inducing bowl ischemia. Sometimes surgical exploration can be necessary after embolization. However, especially in severe bleeding, embolization may help to stabilize the patient before major surgery. If the bleeding source can not be identified, intraarterial infusion of vasoactive drugs, like vasopressin, may be effective. Results: In upper GI bleeding, hemostasis can be achieved by transarterial embolization in up to 91 %. In lower GI bleeding the success rate is less well defined, since there are no larger series available in the current literature. In all embolization procedures, the risk of ischemic bowl damage has to be considered. This complication occurs more often in embolization after in lower GI bleeding. Conclusions: Transarterial embolization offers an efficient treatment of upper and lower GI bleeding. It should be used for upper GI bleeding when endoscopic hemostasis is not so successful. In lower GI bleeding transarterial embolization often has the character of a temporizing procedure before surgery.      

Over-the-scope clip (OTSC) represents an effective endoscopic treatment for acute GI bleeding after failure of conventional techniques

Background

Through-the-scope clips are commonly used for endoscopic hemostasis of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, but their efficacy can be suboptimal in patients with complex bleeding lesions. The over-the-scope clip (OTSC) could overcome the limitations of through-the-scope clips by allowing compression of larger amounts of tissue, allowing a more efficient hemostasis. We analyzed the use of OTSC in a consecutive case series of patients with acute GI bleeding unresponsive to conventional endoscopic treatment modalities.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in tertiary referral centers, patients undergoing emergency endoscopy for severe acute nonvariceal GI bleeding were treated with the OTSC after failure of conventional techniques. All patients underwent repeat endoscopy 2–4 days after the procedure. Data analysis included primary hemostasis, complications, and 1-month follow-up clinical outcome.

Results

During a 10-month period, 30 patients entered the study consecutively. Bleeding lesions unresponsive to conventional endoscopic treatment (saline/adrenaline injection and through-the-scope clipping) were located in the upper and lower GI tract in 23 and 7 cases, respectively. Primary hemostasis was achieved in 29 of 30 cases (97 %). One patient with bleeding from duodenal bulb ulcer required emergent selective radiological embolization. Rebleeding occurred in two patients 12 and 24 h after the procedure; they were successfully treated with conventional saline/adrenaline endoscopic injection.

Conclusions

OTSC is an effective and safe therapeutic option for severe acute GI bleeding when conventional endoscopic treatment modalities fail.     

Fiberoptic endoscopy: Precise definition of upper gastrointestinal disease

When properly employed, endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract with the flexible maneuverable-tip fiberoptic instruments is the most accurate method of diagnosing any upper gastrointestinal tract disease. Two hundred consecutive endoscopic procedures in the upper gastrointestinal tract were performed without significant morbidity or mortality; the results were reviewed to ascertain the overall diagnostic value of this modality. Although the overall numbers in each subgroup are still small, the experience indicates that: (1) thorough endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract can be carried out expeditiously in most patients without morbidity; (2) upper gastrointestinal tract disease can be precisely defined in the majority of patients; and (3) endoscopic examination frequently alters the initial clinical diagnosis. The precise cause of upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage can be diagnosed in at least three of four cases. Some unnecessary operations can be avoided and proper therapy for specific sources of bleeding can be initiated promptly.     

Smooth muscle tumours of the upper gastrointestinal tract

Forty-six patients with smooth muscle tumours of the stomach and small intestine were treated surgically at the Princess Alexandra Hospital between 1970 and 1986. Leiomyomas were three times more common than leiomyosarcomas, but malignant tumours occurred more frequently in the small intestine than in the stomach. Gastric tumours tended to present with gastrointestinal bleeding, in contrast to intestinal lesions which presented predominantly with abdominal pain. Although leiomyomas tend to be smaller at operation than leiomyosarcomas, the size of a smooth muscle tumour is not reliable in discriminating between benign and malignant lesions. Therefore all smooth muscle tumours of the upper gastrointestinal tract should be excised as widely as possible, including local lymphatics in the dissection where practicable, so as to maximize the likelihood of radical extirpation of malignant lesions. Approximately one-third of patients with leiomyosarcomas have metastases at the time of surgery; the 5 year survival rate after surgical treatment of leiomyosarcomas of the upper gastrointestinal tract is less than 50%.     

Evaluation of endoscopic hemostasis usingan improved clipping apparatus

Summary Endoscopic clipping hemostasis (ECH) is an effective method to control bleeding. However, ordinary clipping apparatuses have not been widely adopted because of several disadvantages. Accordingly, we developed an improved ECH apparatus that can be used during a general endoscopic examination without requiring an assistant. It is not only easy to operate but also ensures safe and effective hemostasis. The ECH apparatus was employed in 80 patients between February 1983 and August 1987 at the Sakura National Hospital. Fifty-one of the patients had upper gastrointestinal bleeding; in 29, preventive clipping was performed after polypectomy. Permanent hemostasis was maintained in 43 (84.3%) of the patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and no bleeding was recognized in any of the 29 patients treated with prophylactic clipping following polypectomy.     

Less frequent causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding represents emergency which despites modern advances in treatment still carry substantial mortality. Mortality remained relatively constant in the last 50 years at approximately 12%. Peptic ulcers remain the most common cause of upper GI bleeding and account approximately 50% of all cases. Next leading causes are esophageal and gastric varices, and gastroduodenal erosions. Mallory Weiss tears, angiodysplasia and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE)-Watermelon stomach are less frequent but important causes of upper GI bleeding that contribute substantially to the overall morbidity and mortality. Recognition of such lesions is crucial to provide effective hemostasis. In most cases endoscopic therapy is procedure of choice which significantly improved the outcome of patients. In cases where endoscopic hemostasis is not effective, or patients rebleed after initial control surgical therapy may be required. This article will review recent advances in diagnosis and therapy of upper GI bleeding caused by Mallory Weiss tears, angiodysplasia or Watermelon stomach.     

Dieulafoy's lesion: rare cause of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Dieulafoy's lesion is an unusual and potentially life-threatening cause of massive, recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding. Its reported incidence as a source of upper gastrointestinal bleeding ranges from 0.3-6.7%. Dieulafoy's lesion is most commonly located in the proximal stomach (75% of cases). Lesion typically occur within 6 to 10 cm of the esophagogastric junction, generally along the lesser curvature of the stomach. Similar lesions have been identified in the esophagus, duodenal bulb, jejunum, ileum, colorectum, anal canal, even in bronchus. Detection and identification of the Dieulafoy's lesion as the source of bleeding can often be difficult, especially because most present with massive bleeding. Because of intermittent nature of bleeding, initial endoscopy is diagnostic in 60% of the cases, so repeated endoscopies are often necessary. If the lesion can be endoscopically documented, attempts should be made to achieve hemostasis using one or a combination of several endoscopic modalities. Success has been reported with multipolar electrocoagulation, heater probe, noncontact laser photocoagulation, injection sclerotherapy, endoscopic hemoclipping and band ligation. Surgery is reserved for lesions that cannot be controlled by endoscopic techniques. When localized, a wide wedge resection of entire area traversed by the large submucosal artery is recomended because rebleeding has been described after simple coagulation and ligation.     

Vascular malformations of the gastrointestinal tract.

The advent of fiberoptic endoscopy, which became widespread in the evaluation of gastrointestinal bleeding throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, has dramatically changed both our understanding of the extent to which vascular malformations account for gastrointestinal blood loss and our ability to treat these lesions at the time of diagnosis. Colonic vascular malformations appear to be the single most common cause of acute or recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding episodes in patients over 60 years of age, being responsible for the bleeding in as many as 35% of such patients. Although less common as a cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, these lesions still account for 2% to 5% of bleeding lesions in older patients. Diagnosis is accomplished by endoscopy, and the vascular malformations can then be coagulated via the endoscope using one of a number of thermal systems. The argon laser, the heater probe, and the BICAP system are all effective and safe throughout the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the cecum and right colon, where the majority of sporadic vascular malformations occur. Monopolar cautery and the Nd:YAG laser are equally efficacious, but their greater and less predictable depth of coagulation make them much less safe in the cecum and right colon. There are no apparent advantages in terms of efficacy and safety between laser treatment and the other thermal modalities. The laser has the advantage of being quicker, which is especially important when treating large or multiple lesions. The other modalities have the advantages of portability and low relative cost. Endoscopic therapy with lasers or other thermal devices is nonspecific. The effects are achieved by thermally coagulating the mucosal vascular lesions, allowing the coagulated tissue to slough, and leaving a mucosal ulceration that subsequently heals with re-epithelialization. Endoscopic coagulation has thus been reported effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal mucosal vascular lesions regardless of their etiology or characteristics. It has been effective for sporadic vascular malformations, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu disease), radiation proctocolitis, the blue rubber-bleb nevus syndrome, and diffuse gastric antral vascular ectasia (the watermelon stomach). As we move through the 1990s and beyond, these endoscopic modalities offer an effective, relatively safe, and clearly less invasive treatment option for the many patients who experience acute, recurrent, or chronic gastrointestinal bleeding from any of these lesions.     

Endoscopic diagnostics and management of postoperative gastrointestinal bleedings

The features of clinical course, the frequency and the pattern of gastrointestinal bleedings after diverse abdominal operations were studied over a period of time from 1993 to 2006. Postoperative gastrointestinal bleedings were observed at 503 patients. The frequency of postoperative gastrointestinal bleedings amounted 0.5% after operations on account of purulent diseases with different localization, 0.6% after abdominal and cardiovascular operations, 0.8% after lung operations, 1.5% after operations on the account of burn disease, 6.1% after hepatopancreatobiliary operations. In accordance with the stages of postoperative period, distinctions in endoscopic picture and the tactics of treatment early and late bleedings were distinguished during the investigation. It has been established, that blood supply disturbance in portal vein, manifested by transient portal hypertension is, one of the most important pathogenetic factors of development of bleeding after hepatopancreatobiliary operations along with acute erosive (ulcerous) affection, caused by stress or trauma, and multiple organ failure. The features of clinical course of postoperative bleedings were studied in different groups of surgical patients. The comparative evaluation of efficacy of endoscopic methods of hemostasis (injection,various endoclips, hydrothermocoagulation, argon-plasma coagulation) was carried out. It was shown that the application of new methods of endoscopic sanation and investigation of the upper gastrointestinal tract had resulted in increase of frequency of exposure of gastrointestinal bleeding source from 69.8% to 88.4% at primary urgent esophagogastroscopy. The efficacy of hemostasis at postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding raised from 70.3% to 92.4%.     

Is endoscopic band ligation superior to injection therapy for Dieulafoy lesion?

Background  Dieulafoy lesion is a rare but serious cause of gastrointestinal system bleeding. An aberrant submucosal artery, which was described in 1884, causes the bleeding. The lesion can be located anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract but is most commonly found in the proximal stomach up to 6 cm from the gastroesophageal junction. Increased experience in endoscopy has led to an increased frequency of its proper diagnosis. Various methods are used to achieve successful hemostasis by endoscopy in Dieulafoy lesion; however, comparative studies about the success rates of these methods are still needed. In this study, we compared two of these endoscopic hemostatic methods: band ligation, and injection therapy in Dieulafoy lesions. Methods  In this prospective study, 18 patients admitted to the Emergency Surgical Unit between January 2002 and December 2005 with upper gastrointestinal bleeding diagnosed as Dieulafoy lesion were included. Diagnose of Dieulafoy lesion was made at initial or second-look endoscopy. Patients were randomized in two groups according to therapy method: injection therapy and band ligation groups. Therapy was applied immediately after recognizing the lesion at the same endoscopic procedure. Two groups were compared regarding demographical data, presence of comorbid diseases, history of medication and previous gastrointestinal system bleeding, hemodynamic status, laboratory values, need for transfusion, endoscopic findings, success rate of the treatment method, mean hospital stay, complications, and recurrence of bleeding. Results  Of 588 patients admitted with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, Dieulafoy lesion was recognized in 18 cases (3.1%) at initial or second-look endoscopy. All patients were men with a mean age of 62.8 (range, 30–80) years. Band ligation was applied to ten patients and the remaining eight were treated by injection therapy. During the follow-up period, rebleeding occurred in six of the patients (75%) with injection therapy, whereas no rebleeding occurred for the patients in the band ligation group. The rebleeding rate and mean hospital stay was significantly higher for the injection therapy group. Conclusions  Our study suggests that of the endoscopic treatment methods, band ligation is superior to injection therapy for the treatment Dieulafoy lesions. Presented at the 15th EAES Congress, July 4–7, 2008 Athens, Greece.     

Surgical therapy for peptic ulcer and nonvariceal bleeding

Wider use of endoscopic hemostasis in upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) has reduced significantly the need for operation. Nevertheless, surgery still plays a pivotal role. Failure to control bleeding endoscopically should not delay surgery when necessary, and a close cooperation between endoscopists and surgeons is essential. Initial endoscopy stops the bleeding in approximately 94% of patients and helps to identify those patients with a high or low risk of rebleeding. High-risk patients should be examined for rebleeding by clinical and endoscopic assessment within at least the first 2-3 days. Large ulcers are the most likely to rebleed, and in elderly patients with severe comorbidity showing little or no healing tendency, they benefit from repeated fibrin glue treatment. In cases of rebleeding despite initial endoscopic hemostasis and conservative treatment, another attempt to stop the hemorrhage endoscopically is justified in most patients. A subgroup of patients who are old, suffering from hypotension due to rebleeding, with large ulcers and several other illnesses should undergo surgery immediately because endoscopic intervention often fails, and these patients deteriorate quickly. The surgical procedure should be limited to safe hemostasis.     

心脏手术后消化道出血44例临床分析

目的探讨心脏手术后并发消化道出血的诊断、处理和相关危险因素。方法回顾性分析1991年1月至2003年10月间8317例成人心脏手术后的44例消化道出血患者的临床资料,采用多因素logistic回归分析方法分析死亡相关危险因素。结果消化道出血发生于术后2～11d,平均(6±3)d,病死率为23%(10/44)。上消化道出血者38例,其中保守治疗26例,死亡4例,与心脏手术后引起其他重要脏器损伤或心脏本身有关;行剖腹探查手术6例,死亡4例,其中1例死于败血症、3例死于多器官功能衰竭;胃镜下电灼或夹闭出血点止血6例,均存活。下消化道出血6例,其中2例行剖腹探查术中未发现出血点,后死于多器官功能衰竭。术后呼吸机依赖、急性肾功能不全、使用主动脉内球囊反搏和剖腹手术为消化道出血死亡危险因素。结论心脏手术后消化道出血病死率较高,对高危病例有必要采取预防措施;早期进行内窥镜下诊断、微创介入止血处理可取得较好的效果。     

Jejunal telangiectasias as a cause of massive bleeding in a patient with scleroderma

Telengiectasias (arteriovenous malformations) can be seen in scleroderma throughout the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach, small bowel and colon. Massive gastrointestinal bleeding rarely results from these malformations in scleroderma. The case of a patient presenting with severe jejunal bleeding secondary to telangiectasias with special regard to the management is discussed. This case emphasizes the importance of endoscopic examination combined with mesenteric angiography in patients with scleroderma who present with a high index of suspicion of telangiectasias as a source of bleeding.     

Clinical application of the Nd:YAG laser endoscopy

We report here our clinical experiences with Nd:YAG laser therapy, and evaluate the results of this treatment. From July 1980 to December 1981, we carried out endoscopic laser treatment for 31 patients with 33 lesions. Bleeding gastric ulcers except stomal ulcers were treated successfully. For mucosal lesions of the stomach, Nd:YAG laser irradiation was effective in extirpating them. In advanced gastric cancers, symptoms of cardiac stenosis could be relieved in 80% of the cases. Endoscopic laser therapy was also effective in 80% of postoperative stenosis in the gastrointestinal tract. It is concluded that endoscopic irradiation with the Nd:YAG laser is useful for hemostasis and also for the treatment of malignant tumors and stenosis of the gastrointestinal tract.     

Radiologic, endoscopic, and surgical considerations of melanoma metastatic to the gastrointestinal tract

Malignant melanoma is the most common malignancy to metastasize to the gastrointestinal tract. In a retrospective computer-assisted data search of over 2500 patients with melanoma registered over the past 10 years, 110 patients have been identified to have premortem gastrointestinal metastatic disease (metastatic disease identified at least 6 months before death). The small intestine (35%), colon (14.5%), and stomach (7%) are the most common sites for metastases. Polypoid or ulcerating masses and intramucosal nodules are typical radiologic presentations for gastric and colonic lesions, while over 50% of the small bowel metastases are polypoid masses that many times act as leading points for intussusception. Endoscopic studies are helpful in the preoperative diagnosis of these lesions. In a subset of 38 patients with symptomatic small bowel metastatic disease, complete resections were performed in 26% of patients, with palliative bypasses being performed in 40%, despite the fact that over 50% of the patients had documented visceral metastasis in other body sites. The operative morbidity rate was 15% with no operative deaths. Ninety percent of patients gained relief of symptoms, and overall survival from the time of confirmed small bowel disease averaged 17.3 months, with a range of 6 months to 9 years. It would seem that patients with melanoma with gastrointestinal metastatic disease can benefit from aggressive radiologic and endoscopic procedures for diagnosis and staging. Only through surgical interventions for symptomatic gastrointestinal disease can the quality of life be improved and life expectancy be extended.     

Clinical features of Crohn's disease: a clinical study of one hundred patients found in an unselected population

One hundred patients (mean age 34 years, range from 12 to 70 years) were treated at Tampere University Hospital during the thirteen year period, 1972-1984. Our hospital takes responsibility for the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease found in an unselected population of 400,000 inhabitants. In 73% of cases Crohn's disease was diagnosed before the age of forty. The mean interval between the first clinical signs and the diagnosis was 3.3 years. In 57% of the patients the diagnosis was reached within one year. In nine patients the primary diagnosis was colitis ulcerosa. Most patient were anemic and were in the state of inflammation and/or catabolism suggested by low blood hemoglobin concentration and high ESR and CRP values on admission. Three percent of the patients had macroscopic Crohn's disease in all parts of the gastrointestinal tract, whereas 22% had it only in the small intestine and 18% only in the colon. Fifty of the hundred patients had lesions in the terminal ileum and 20% in the anus. The specific finding for the present series was a high frequency of rectal lesions, in 29% of the patients. Histologically the condition was more often (P less than 0.001) revealed by the laparatomy specimen than the endoscopic biopsy, which gave a positive histology more often (P less than 0.001) in the lower than in the upper gastrointestinal tract. No gastrointestinal malignancies were found.     

上消化道Dieulafoy病的诊断与治疗(附14例报告)

目的探讨上消化道Ｄｉｅｕｌａｆｏｙ病的诊断和治疗方法。方法回顾性分析本院６年来收治的１４例上消化道Ｄｉｅｕｌａｆｏｙ病的临床资料。结果Ｄｉｅｕｌａｆｏｙ病发生于食管２例,胃底４例,胃体近贲门小弯侧７例,十二指肠球部１例。主要表现为突发间歇性的大量呕血、黑便和休克。１４例均通过急诊胃镜检查确诊,其中３例术后病理证实。１４例均行内镜下止血治疗,暂时止血率１００％。１０例（７１．４％）持久止血,３例胃底Ｄｉｅｕｌａｆｏｙ病镜下止血后再出血,转外科手术,行术中胃镜定位病灶局部楔形切除治愈,１例放弃治疗死亡。结论出血后尽快急诊胃镜检查是确诊本病的首选方法。治疗上可先行内镜下止血治疗,内镜止血后仍反复出血,特别是病灶位于胃底者,应适时中转手术。术中胃镜定位,局部楔形切除病灶是胃底Ｄｉｅｕｌａｆｏｙ病的首选术式