Hemostatic sprays to control active nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

As nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding remains a critical health concern, there is a need for ongoing optimization of endoscopic hemostasis modalities. Current methods for endoscopic hemostasis include epinephrine injection, thermal coagulation, and mechanical clips. Although these modalities have proven efficacy, there are limitations to their use, including significant learning curves and the requirement of expert assistants. Moreover, there still remains an ongoing risk of rebleeding after therapy. Therefore, a need exists for a safe and easy-to-use method for endoscopic hemostasis, specifically in the setting where current methods for hemostasis are limited or in the setting when hemostasis has not been achieved despite their application. Hemostatic sprays have emerged as novel methods for achieving hemostasis. Therefore, we sought to appraise the evidence concerning the use of hemostatic sprays. Our review highlights that hemostatic spray is a safe and effective method for endoscopic hemostasis, specifically, when current methods are infeasible, unsuccessful, and in malignant nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.     

Comparison of a novel bedside portable endoscopy device with nasogastric aspiration for identifying upper gastrointestinal bleeding

AIM: To compare outcomes using the novel portable endoscopy with that of nasogastric (NG) aspiration in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding.METHODS: Patients who underwent NG aspiration for the evaluation of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding were eligible for the study. After NG aspiration, we performed the portable endoscopy to identify bleeding evidence in the UGI tract. Then, all patients underwent conventional esophagogastroduodenoscopy as the gold-standard test. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the portable endoscopy for confirming UGI bleeding were compared with those of NG aspiration.RESULTS: In total, 129 patients who had GI bleeding signs or symptoms were included in the study (age 64.46 ± 13.79, 91 males). The UGI tract (esophagus, stomach, and duodenum) was the most common site of bleeding (81, 62.8%) and the cause of bleeding was not identified in 12 patients (9.3%). Specificity for identifying UGI bleeding was higher with the portable endoscopy than NG aspiration (85.4% vs 68.8%, P = 0.008) while accuracy was comparable. The accuracy of the portable endoscopy was significantly higher than that of NG in the subgroup analysis of patients with esophageal bleeding (88.2% vs 75%, P = 0.004). Food material could be detected more readily by the portable endoscopy than NG tube aspiration (20.9% vs 9.3%, P = 0.014). No serious adverse effect was observed during the portable endoscopy.CONCLUSION: The portable endoscopy was not superior to NG aspiration for confirming UGI bleeding site. However, this novel portable endoscopy device might provide a benefit over NG aspiration in patients with esophageal bleeding.     

Diagnosis and therapy of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(UGIB) is defined as bleeding proximal to the ligament of Treitz in the absence of oesophageal, gastric or duodenal varices. The clinical presentation varies according to the intensity of bleeding from occult bleeding to melena or haematemesis and haemorrhagic shock. Causes of UGIB are peptic ulcers, Mallory-Weiss lesions,erosive gastritis, reflux oesophagitis, Dieulafoy lesions or angiodysplasia. After admission to the hospital a structured approach to the patient with acute UGIB that includes haemodynamic resuscitation and stabilization as well as pre-endoscopic risk stratification has to be done. Endoscopy offers not only the localisation of the bleeding site but also a variety of therapeutic measures like injection therapy, thermocoagulation or endoclips. Endoscopic therapy is facilitated by acid suppression with proton pump inhibitor(PPI) therapy. These drugs are highly effective but the best route of application(oral vs intravenous) and the adequate dosage are still subjects of discussion. Patients with ulcer disease are tested for Helicobacter pylori and eradication therapy should be given if it is present. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs have to be discontinued if possible. If discontinuation is not possible, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in combination with PPI have the lowest bleeding risk but the incidence of cardiovascular events is increased.     

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to a rectal leiomyoma

The occurrence of leiomyoma of the rectum is uncommon. Most of these lesions are clinically silent and are found incidentally during laparotomy or endoscopic procedures for unrelated conditions. Symptomatic leiomyomas of the rectum are encountered less frequently, with only sporadic reports in the literature. We describe a case of a leiomyoma of the rectum presenting as recurrent lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage and secondary anemia.     

AIMS65: A promising upper gastrointestinal bleeding risk score but further validation required

A novel upper gastrointestinal bleeding risk stratification score (AIMS65) has recently been developed and validated. It has advantages over existing risk scores including being easy to remember and lack of subjectivity in calculation. We comment on a recent study that has cast doubt on the applicability of AIMS65 in the peptic ulcer disease population. Although promising, further studies are required to evaluate the validity of AIMS65 in various populations.     

Unusual upper gastrointestinal bleeding: Ruptured superior mesenteric artery aneurysm in rheumatoid arthritis

This case report describes an unusual case of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding caused by a ruptured superior mesenteric artery (SMA) aneurysm in the duodenum in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. The patient presented with UGI bleeding and hemorrhagic shock. Emergency UGI endoscopy could not identify the source of the bleeding because of excessive blood clots under the second portion of the duodenum. An SMA aneurysm with active contrast extravasation was diagnosed by computed tomography. The aneurysm, together with the fourth portion of the duodenum and the proximal portion of the jejunum, was surgically resected, and the SMA was skeletonized. On postoperative day 15, the patient was discharged from hospital under satisfactory conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis has been known to cause a wide spectrum of manifestations, and an SMA aneurysm is an unusual extra-articular manifestation. An SMA aneurysm rupture presenting as upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a rare complication with a high mortality rate. The clinician must be alert to this potential issue to achieve rapid diagnostic confirmation, and immediate surgical or radiological intervention.     

Active gastrointestinal diverticulum bleeding diagnosed by computed tomography angiography

A diverticulum is a bulging sack in any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. Small intestine diverticular disease is much less common than colonic diverticular disease. The most common symptoms include non-specific epigastric pain and a bloating sensation. Major complications include diverticulitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, acute perforation, intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation, localized abscess, malabsorption, anemia, volvulus and bacterial overgrowth. We report one case of massive jejunal diverticula bleeding and one case of massive colonic diverticula bleeding, both diagnosed by acute abdominal computed tomography angiography and treated successfully by surgery.     

Causes of gastrointestinal bleeding in children based on endoscopic evaluation at a tertiary care center in Bahrain

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal bleeding(GIB) is a serious health problem worldwide, particularly during childhood. This can be an alarming sign of an underlying disease. Gastrointestinal endoscopy(GIE) is a safe method for the diagnosis and treatment of GIB in most cases.AIM To determine the incidence, clinical presentation, and outcomes of GIB in children in Bahrain over the last two decades.METHODS This was a retrospective cohort review of the medical records of children with GIB who underwent en...     

上消化道出血急诊内镜检查和治疗

目的比较上消化道出血急诊内镜检查及止血的即刻止血率、再出血发生率及住院死亡率．方法上消化道出血４８６例，分为两组，Ａ组为１９９１年底以前出血者（ｎ＝２０９），Ｂ组为１９９２年以后出血者（ｎ＝２７７）．两组大出血发生率无显著差别．Ｂ组出血后２４ｈ内行急诊检查者明显多于Ａ组（Ｐ＜００１）．结果Ｂ组急性胃粘膜损伤出血（９７％）多于Ａ组（５３％），原因不明出血者（４３％）少于Ａ组（９６％）．经过治疗，Ｂ组出血控制率（９４４％）高于Ａ组（６０３％），再出血率（９４％）低于Ａ组（１５８％），住院死亡率（２８％）低于Ａ组（１０１％）．结论急诊内镜检查可提高出血病因诊断率，配合有效的止血措施，可提高止血率和降低住院死亡率     

Detection of active bleeding from gastric antral vascular ectasia by capsule endoscopy

Gastric antral vascular ectasia(GAVE) has been recognized as one of the important causes of occult and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.The diagnosis is typically made based on the characteristic endoscopic features,including longitudinal row of flat,reddish stripes radiating from the pylorus into the antrum that resemble the stripes on a watermelon.These appearances,however,can easily be misinterpreted as moderate to severe gastritis.Although it is believed that capsule endoscopy(CE) is not helpful for the study of the stomach with its large lumen,GAVE can be more likely to be detected at CE rather than conventional endoscopy.CE can be regarded as physiologic endoscopy,without the need for gastric inflation and subsequent compression of the vasculature.The blood flow of the ecstatic vessels may be diminished in an inflated stomach.Therefore,GAVE may be prominent in CE.We herein describe a case of active bleeding from GAVE detected by CE and would like to emphasize a possibility that CE can improve diagnostic yields for GAVE.     

Role of endoscopy in acute gastrointestinal bleeding in real clinical practice:An evidence-based review

Although upper gastrointestinal bleeding is usually segregated from lower gastrointestinal bleeding, and guidelines for gastrointestinal bleeding are divided into two separate sections, they may not be distinguished from each other in clinical practice. Most patients are first observed with signs of bleeding such as hematemesis, melena, and hematochezia. When a patient with these symptoms presents to the emergency room, endoscopic diagnosis and treatment are considered together with appropriate initial resuscitation. Especially, in cases of variceal bleeding, it is important for the prognosis that the endoscopy is performed immediately after the patient stabilizes. In cases of suspected lower gastrointestinal bleeding, full colonoscopy after bowel preparation is effective in distinguishing the cause of the bleeding and treating with hemostasis. The therapeutic aspect of endoscopy, using the mechanical method alone or injection with a certain modality rather than injection alone, can increase the success rate of bleeding control. Therefore, it is important to consider the origin of bleeding and how to approach it. In this article, we aim to review the role of endoscopy in diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding in a real clinical setting.     

乙型肝炎肝硬化患者发生门脉高压性胃病出血相关因素分析

目的 分析乙型肝炎肝硬化患者发生门脉高压性胃病出血的相关因素。方法 2014年1月~2015年12月纳入128例乙型肝炎肝硬化患者,对其临床资料进行回顾性分析。根据因素的不同分类,进行单因素分析,对有统计学意义的因素赋值,再行Logistic多因素回归分析,以获得影响乙型肝炎肝硬化患者发生门脉高压性胃病出血的独立危险因素。结果 在符合纳入条件的128例乙型肝炎肝硬化患者中,49例（38.3%）发生门脉高压性胃病出血,其中粘膜炎症性糜烂出血41例（32.0%）,溃疡性出血8例（6.3%）;胃部有基础疾病的患者发生门脉高压性胃病出血的比例为60.0%,显著高于胃部没有基础疾病的患者（30.1%,P<0.05）,有幽门螺旋杆菌（HP）感染的患者发生门脉高压性胃病出血的比例为54.8%,显著高于无HP感染的患者（33.0%,P<0.05）,存在腹水的患者发生门脉高压性胃病出血的比例为46.3%,显著高于无腹水的患者（23.9%,P<0.05）,Child-Pugh C级、B级和A级患者发生门脉高压性胃病出血的比例分别为58.3%、41.5%和15.4%（P<0.05）,重度、中度和轻度食管静脉曲张（EV）患者发生门脉高压性胃病出血的比例分别为51.8%、41.9%和6.9%（P<0.05）,抗病毒治疗不规律的患者发生门脉高压性胃病出血的比例为55.6%,显著高于抗病毒治疗规律的患者（31.5%,P<0.05）,门静脉内径>14 mm的患者发生门脉高压性胃病出血的比例为48.3%,显著高于门静脉内径≤14 mm的患者（30.0%,P<0.05）,脾静脉内径>9 mm的患者发生门脉高压性胃病出血的比例为48.4%,显著高于脾静脉内径≤9 mm的（28.8%,P<0.05）;多因素分析显示胃部存在基础疾病、Child-Pugh 分级差、EV程度高和门静脉内径宽为发生门脉高压性胃病出血的独立危险因素。结论 应针对存在出血风险的乙型肝炎肝硬化患者给予风险控制,早期防治。     

Bleeding duodenal hemangioma: morphological changes and endoscopic mucosal resection

Recently, the development of endoscopic procedures has increased the availability of minimally invasive treatments; however, there have been few case reports of duodenal hemangioma treated by endoscopic mucosal resection. The present report describes a case of duodenal hemangioma that showed various endoscopic changes over time and was treated by endoscopic mucosal resection. An 80-year-old woman presented with tarry stools and a loss of appetite. An examination of her blood revealed severe anemia, and her hemoglobin level was 4.2 g/dL. An emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed. A red, protrusive, semipedunculated tumor (approximately 20 mm in diameter) with spontaneous bleeding on its surface was found in the superior duodenal angle. Given the semipedunculated appearance of the tumor, it was suspected to be an epithelial tumor with a differential diagnosis of hyperplastic polyp. The biopsy results suggested a telangiectatic hemangioma. Because this lesion was considered to be responsible for her anemia, endoscopic mucosal resection was performed for diagnostic and treatment purposes after informed consent was obtained. A histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed dilated and proliferated capillary lumens of various sizes, which confirmed the final diagnosis of duodenal hemangioma. Neither anemia nor tumor recurrence has been observed since the endoscopic mucosal resection (approximately 1 year). Duodenal hemangiomas can be treated endoscopically provided that sufficient consideration is given to all of the possible treatment strategies. Interestingly, duodenal hemangiomas show morphological changes that are influenced by various factors, such as mechanical stimuli.     

Applicability of the Rockall score in patients undergoing endoscopic therapy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding

BACKGROUND: The Rockall score is used to assess the prognosis of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. AIM: To assess the applicability of the Rockall score in patients undergoing endoscopic therapy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of the Rockall score in the period 1995-2001. To evaluate the applicability of the Rockall system, two groups were created: group I (Rockallor=6 points). RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-two patients were included. The median age of patients was 65 +/ -17 years. Hypotension and associated diseases were present in 20 and 50% of patients, respectively. Re-bleeding occurred in 50 patients (23%) whose median score was 7, whereas the median score of patients without re-bleeding was 6 (p=0.14). There were 20 deaths (9%) with a median score of 8, whilst the median score of surviving patients was 6 (p<0.001). Sixteen patients in group I (18.4%) and 34 in group II (25.2%) re-bled (p=0.25). All the patients who died belong to group II with a Rockall score>or=6 (15% versus 0% in groups II and I, respectively, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The Rockall score can be used in patients who undergo therapeutic endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding to identify those with high risk for mortality.     

抗凝和／或抗血小板药物致消化道出血的临床特点及影响因素

目的探讨服用抗凝和／或抗血小板药患者消化道出血的临床特点及影响因素。方法回顾性分析法国斯特拉斯堡大学附属医院消化内科105例消化道出血住院患者,根据患者消化道出血前是否服用抗凝和／或抗血小板药分为对照组A组（26例）和药物组B组（79例）;按药物类别B组细分为抗血小板组（B1组,37例）,抗凝药组（B2组,26例）及抗凝药联合抗血小板药组（B3组,16例）,分析比较各组年龄、性别、消化道出血严重程度、消化道出血方式、内镜下表现的区别,与药物种类、质子泵药物、INR值的相关性。结果B组平均年龄高于A组（78．1岁±9．4岁 vs 61．5岁±17．8岁,P〈0．001）,B组严重性消化道出血比例显著高于A组（57．0％ vs 19．2％,P=0．001）;各组消化道出血的形式无明显区别,内镜下均以十二指肠溃疡为主。B组中,抗血小板药物患者严重消化道出血率（64．9％）高于其余两组;服用抗凝药物患者中,INR≥3患者发生严重消化道出血率高于INR〈3患者（58．3％ vs 38．9％）。结论服用抗血小板／抗凝药物可增加患者严重消化道出血的发生率,年龄、INR值、药物种类均是其重要影响因素。     

Hepatocellular carcinoma masquerading as a bleeding gastric ulcer： A case report and a review of the surgical management

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancyworldwide. While bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract(BGIT) has a well known association with HCC, suchcases are mainly due to gastric and esophageal varices.BGIT as a result of invasion of the gastrointestinal tractby HCC is extremely rare and is reportedly associatedwith very poor prognosis. We describe a 67-year-oldmale who presented with BGIT. Endoscopy showed thesite of bleeding to be from a gastric ulcer, but endoscopictherapy failed to control the bleeding and emergencysurgery was required. At surgery, the ulcer was found tohave arisen from direct invasion of the gastrointestinaltract by HCC of the left lobe. Control of the bleedingwas achieved by surgical resection of the HCC en-bloc with the lesser curve of the stomach. The patientremains alive 33 mo after surgery. Direct invasion of thegastrointestinal tract by HCC giving rise to BGIT is veryuncommon. Surgical resection may offer significantlybetter survival over non-surgical therapy, especially if thepatient is a good surgical candidate and has adequatefunctional liver reserves. Prognosis is not uniformly grave.     

Effects of a somatostatin analogue in occult gastrointestinal bleeding: a case report

We describe the case of a patient with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and anaemia, who required repeated transfusions for about 1 year. Because of the absence of a certain diagnosis and of a surgical approach indication, we established long-acting octreotide therapy, obtaining clinical stabilisation and interruption of the transfusional need. Withdrawal of long-acting somatostatin analogue therapy was associated with renewal of bleeding that was again successfully stopped by continuous i.v. somatostatin administration followed by re-establishment of the long-acting octreotide therapy. We suggested, in absence of surgical indications and when only palliative therapies are available, a therapeutic approach with long-term SMS analogues in patients with lower digestive bleeding of a known or unknown source.     

Application of endoscopic hemoclips for nonvariceal bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract

AIM： To investigate acute nonvariceal bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal （GI） tract and evaluate the effects of endoscopic hemoclipping. METHODS： Sixty-eight cases of acute nonvariceal bleeding in the upper GI tract were given endoscopic treatment with hemoclip application. Clinical data, endoscopic findings, and the effects of the therapy were evaluated. RESULTS： The 68 cases （male：female = 42：26, age from 9 to 70 years, average 54.4） presented with hernatemesis in 26 cases （38.2%）, melena in nine cases （13.3%）, and both in 33 cases （48.5%）. The causes of the bleeding included gastric ulcer （29 cases）, duodenal ulcer （11 cases）, Dieulafoy＇s lesion （11 cases）, Mallory-Weiss syndrome （six cases）, post-operative （three cases）, post-polypectomy bleeding （five cases）, and post-sphincterotomy bleeding （three cases）; 42 cases had active bleeding. The mean number of hemoclips applied was four. Permanent hemostasis was obtained by hemoclip application in 59 cases; 6 cases required emergent surgery （three cases had peptic ulcers, one had Dieulafoy＇s lesion, and two were caused by sphincterotomy）; three patients died （two had Dieulafoy＇s lesion and one was caused by sphincterotomy）; and one had recurrent bleeding with Dieulafoy＇s lesion 10 mo later, but in a different location. CONCLUSION： Endoscopic hemoclip application was an effective and safe method for acute nonvariceal bleeding in the upper GI tract with satisfactory outcomes.