An evaluation of endoscopic indications and findings related to nonvariceal upper-GI hemorrhage in a large multicenter consortium

BACKGROUND: The majority of studies on upper-GI hemorrhage (UGIH) to date have been based on clinical experience at academic centers. There is limited information about patients with UGIH who are evaluated by endoscopy at nonacademic settings, which comprise the majority of endoscopic practices in the United States. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this retrospective study were to use a large national endoscopy database to describe the population of patients who received an EGD for nonvariceal upper-GI hemorrhage at diverse clinical practice sites and to characterize their endoscopic diagnoses. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2004, the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative (CORI) database received endoscopic reports from 72 diverse practice sites in the United States. All adult patients who underwent an EGD during this period at a CORI site for the indications of hematemesis, melena, or "suspected upper-GI bleed" were identified. Variceal bleeding was excluded. The nonvariceal UGIH cohort was described, and this group's endoscopic findings were characterized by the prevalence, indication, and location of an EGD (inpatient vs outpatient). A repeat EGD within a 2-week period was also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 243,427 EGDs were performed during the study period; 12,392 (4.9% of all EGDs) were performed for evaluation of hematemesis, melena, or "suspected" upper-GI bleed. Patients in this cohort were more likely to be older, men, and nonwhite compared with their nonbleeding counterparts. Melena was the most common indication for an EGD. The most common endoscopic finding was an ulcer (32.7%), followed by erosion (18.8%). A "normal" EGD was reported on 17.2% of EGDs. Among patients with ulcers, gastric ulcers were more common that duodenal ulcers (54.4% vs 37.1%), whereas clean-based ulcers comprised 52% of all ulcers. Ulcers and Mallory-Weiss tears were significantly more common on inpatient procedures. Ulcers identified on outpatient EGDs were more likely to be clean based. A repeat endoscopy was performed on 4% of the cohort within a 2-week follow-up period, hematemesis was the most common indication for a repeat EGD, and 24.3% of the cohort had a documented therapeutic intervention on their initial EGD. Among inpatients, 6.0% had a repeat EGD within two weeks for an UGIH indication compared with only 1.4% of outpatients (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results allow association of EGD findings with patient presentation. Furthermore, it allows us to characterize endoscopic findings in a particular patient population (those patients with UGIH) in clinical practice, outside of traditional academic medical centers. The CORI database is a valuable resource for characterizing the epidemiology of endoscopic findings and, in particular, patient populations and across diverse practice settings, thus, enabling the development of hypotheses for future studies.     

The Utility of Upper Endoscopy in Patients with Concomitant Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Acute Myocardial Infarction

Patients who present with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may have suffered an UGIB that subsequently led to an AMI or endured an AMI and subsequently suffered a UGIB as a consequence of anticoagulation. We hypothesized that patients in the former group bled from more severe upper tract lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate predictors for endoscopic therapy in patients who suffer a concomitant UGIB and AMI. Retrospective, single center medical record abstraction of hospital admissions from January 1, 1996–December 31, 2002. During the study period, 183 patients underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) within 7 days of suffering an AMI and UGIB (AMI group N=105, UGIB group N=78). A higher proportion of patients in the UGIB group (41%) was found to have high-risk UGI lesions requiring endoscopic treatment compared to patients in the AMI group (17%; P < 0.004). UGIB as the inciting event and patients suffering from hematemesis and hemodynamic instability were significantly associated with requiring endoscopic therapy. Although predominantly diagnostic, endoscopic findings in the AMI group did alter the decision to perform cardiac catheterization in 43% of patients. Severe complications occurred in 1% (95% confidence interval, 0%–4%) of patients. We conclude that in patients suffering from concomitant UGIB and AMI, urgent endoscopy was most beneficial in patients with UGIB as the initial event and those presenting with hematemesis and hemodynamic instability. In patients without these clinical features, urgent endoscopy may be delayed, unless cardiac management decisions are dependent on endoscopic findings.     

Bleeding pattern before admission as guideline for emergency endoscopy

In a prospective study of 539 patients admitted because of hematemesis and melena the bleeding pattern before admission was compared with the findings obtained on emergency endoscopy and the subsequent clinical course. Ranked in order of prognostic importance, red hematemesis with melena, black hematemesis with melena, and red hematemesis alone increased the probability of massive hemorrhage. Moreover, black hematemesis with melena was the superior predictor of bleeding ulcer, the commonest lesion carrying the risk of massive hemorrhage. In contrast, in patients with melena or black hematemesis alone massive hemorrhage occurred comparatively infrequently. The order of prognostic importance was supported by the transfusion requirement. In screening for a potentially life-threatening ulcer hemorrhage, emergency endoscopy is recommended in patients with black hematemesis with melena or with red hematemesis with or without melena. In patients presenting with black hematemesis or melena alone endoscopy may be postponed to the next convenient daytime.     

Safety and Efficacy of Nasogastric Intubation for Gastrointestinal Bleeding After Myocardial Infarction: An Analysis of 125 Patients at Two Tertiary Cardiac Referral Hospitals

Our purpose was to analyze risks versus benefits of nasogastric (NG) intubation for gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding performed soon after myocardial infarction (MI). While NG intubation and aspiration is relatively safe, clinically beneficial, and routinely performed in the general population for recent GI bleeding, its safety after MI is unstudied and unknown. In addition to the usual complications of NG tubes, patients status post-MI may be particularly susceptible to myocardial ischemia or cardiac arrhythmias from anxiety or discomfort during intubation. We studied NG intubation within 30 days of MI in 125 patients at two hospitals from 1986 through 2001. Indications for NG intubation included melena in 55 patients; fecal occult blood with an acute hematocrit decline, severe anemia, or sudden hypotension in 37; hematemesis in 18; bright red blood per rectum in 8; and dark red blood per rectum in 7. The intubation was performed on average 5.3 ± 7.2 (SD) days after MI. NG aspiration revealed bright red blood in 38 patients, “coffee grounds”-appearing blood in 45, and clear (or bilious) fluid in 42. Among 114 of the patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), EGD revealed the cause of bleeding in 79 (95%) of 83 patients with a grossly bloody NG aspirate versus 12 (39%) of 31 patients with a clear aspirate (P < 0.0001, OR = 31.3, OR CI = 9.4–103.1). Among 85 patients undergoing EGD within 16 hr of NG intubation, stigmata of recent hemorrhage were present in 28 (42%) of 66 with a bloody NG aspirate versus 3 (16%) of 19 with a clear aspirate (P = 0.06, OR = 3.93). Among 35 patients undergoing lower GI endoscopy, lower endoscopy revealed the cause of bleeding in 14 (56%) of 25 patients with a clear NG aspirate versus 1 (10%) of 10 patients with a grossly bloody aspirate (P < 0.04, OR = 11.46, OR CI = 1.55–78.3). The two NG tube complications (epistaxis during intubation and gastric erosions from NG suctioning) were neither cardiac nor major (requiring blood transfusions). This study suggests that short-term NG intubation is relatively safe and may be beneficial and indicated for acute GI bleeding after recent MI. Aside from improving visualization at EGD, the potential benefits include providing a rational basis for the timing of endoscopy (urgent versus semielective), for prioritizing the order of endoscopy (EGD versus colonoscopy), and for avoiding or deferring endoscopy in low-yield situations (e.g., colonoscopy when the NG aspirate is bloody). These benefits may be particularly relevant in patients after recent MI due to their increased endoscopic risks.     

A pilot study of single-use endoscopy in screening acute gastrointestinal bleeding

AIM:To investigate the feasibility of a single-use endoscopy as an alternative procedure to nasogastric lavage in patients with acute gastrointestinal(GI) bleeding.METHODS:Patients who presented with hematemesis,melena or hematochezia were enrolled in this study.EG scan and conventional esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD) were subsequently performed.Active bleeding was defined as blood in the stomach,and inactive bleeding was defined as coffee ground clots and clear fluid in the stomach.The findings were recorded and compared.RESULTS:Between January and March,2011,13 patients that presented with hematemesis(n = 4),melena(n = 6),or bleeding from a previous nasogastric feeding tube(n = 3),were enrolled in this study.In 12 patients with upper GI bleeding,the EG scan device revealed that 7 patients had active bleeding and 5 patients had inactive bleeding,whereas conventional EGD revealed that 8 patients had active bleeding and 4 patients had inactive bleeding.The sensitivity and specificity of the EG scan device was 87.5% and 100% for active bleeding,with conventional EGD serving as a reference.No complication were reported during the EG scan procedures.CONCLUSION:The EG scan is a feasible device for screening acute upper GI bleeding.It may replace nasogastric lavage for the evaluation of acute upper GI bleeding.     

Le profil étiologique des hémorragies digestives hautes extériorisées dans la région de Marrakech

In the absence of a national or regional observatory of gastrointestinal bleeding, few data are available concerning upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Morocco. We have performed a prospective study at the gastroenterology department of the Mohamed VI UHC in Marrakech for a period of 36 months; we gathered 186 cases of hematemesis and/or melena in order to study the epidemiological aspects of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the Marrakech region. The upper gastrointestinal bleeding represented 3.64% of all indications of gastrointestinal endoscopy and 52.54% of all GI bleeding hospitalized during the same period. The male sex was dominant (sex-ratio: 1.8). The main age was 48 years ranging from 15 to 80 years with a peak incidence between 20 and 40 years. Associated diseases were liver cirrhosis in 9% of the cases, end stage renal failure in 3.2% of the cases and chronic epigastric pain with 15% of the cases, a peptic ulcer disease known in 5% of the cases and a recent use of NSAIDs in 16.3% of the cases. The upper gastrointestinal bleeding was revealed by hematemesis and melena concomitant in 32%, hematemesis only in 21% and melena only isolated in 11% of the cases. Gastrointestinal endoscopy performed after a mean delay of 16 hours of admission was conclusive in 88.70% of the cases. Etiology was mainly peptic ulcer disease (32.25% of the cases) and rupture of esophageal varices in 27.4% of the cases. Endoscopic treatment was performed in 32% of patients, and hemostasis was obtained in 98.5% of the cases after the first endoscopic procedure. Rebleeding or persistent bleeding was noted in 10.3% of the cases. Surgery was necessary in 2.6% of the cases. The overall mortality was 6.23%, and 67% of the patients who died had a rupture of esophageal or gastric varices in the source of bleeding.     

Biphasic Diurnal Periodicity in Bleeding from Peptic Ulcer

Objective : To evaluate if tbere was periodicity in the manifestations of gastrointestinal bleeding (hemateme-sis and melena). Method : This is a multicenter prospective study carried out in the Endoscopy Units of eight hospitals. At the time of the emergency endoscopy, the following data were collected: age, sex, endoscopic diagnosis, solar hour of the first hematemesis (vomiting of bright red or tarry black material) and of the first melena (black or bloody soft stools), and any drugs taken during the week before the bleeding episode, regardless of the dose. Results : 806 patients were studied. Bleeding was from peptic ulcer in 405 patients (50%), from esophageal varices in 197 (24%), and from other sources in the remainder. Analysis using single cosinor statistics showed a nonrandom distribution in bleeding from peptic ulcer, whether presenting first with hematemesis (p = 0.02) or melena (p = 0.03). There were two peaks at 6:45 AM and 6:45 PM for hemate-mesis and at 7:25 AM and 7:25 PM for melena, representing a biphasic diurnal (ultradian) rhythm. Conclusions : This study shows that bleeding due to peptic ulcer has a biphasic diurnal periodicity. 1 his has potential importance for the pathogenesis of bleeding, for the management of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and the administration of drugs known to cause peptic ulcer bleeding.     

Pathologies digestives hautes associées aux anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens

Objective

assess the pathology of the upper digestive tract associated with NSAIDs.

Patients and methods

it is a prospective study from June 2012 to July 2014 including, patients under treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. They were seen in consultation for gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, dyspepsia, hematemesis, melena, vomiting), and had undergone upper endoscopy. NSAIDs were considered as the cause of endoscopic lesions if taken during the preceding two weeks. Gastric biopsy in search of Helicobacter pylori was not systematic.

Results

A total of 142 patients were recruited, among them 72 men (50.7%). The average age was 48.8 years. There were 45 patients with hypertension (31.7%), and 11with valvular disease (7.7%). Twenty-six patients had rheumatic disease, or 16.2%. NSAID use was resulting from self-medication in 34% of cases. Ibuprofen was the most antiinflammatory used (50%). The most frequent indication for endoscopy was epigastric pain (64%), followed by hematemesis and / or melena (29.6 %). The duration of NSAID use was more than 12 months in 29 patients (20.4%), between one and three months for 27 patients (19%) and one to 14 days in 52 patients (36.6%). Peptic ulcer disease was observed in 61 patients (42.9%). Twenty-six patients (18.3%) were taking two NSAIDs and 14 of them had a peptic ulcer (53.8%). The acid acetyl salicylic low dose (<300 mg) was used in 26 patients (18.3%), of which 12 presented a peptic ulcer (46.1%) and three gastrointestinal bleeding (11.5%). Dyspepsia was observed in 18 patients (12.7%). The risk of peptic ulcer was associated with male gender (OR = 1.4 95% CI: 0.7 to 2.7), more than 12 months NSAID taking (OR = 4.9 95% CI 1.3 to 10.9).

     

消化性溃疡出血急诊内镜检查220例分析

１９９０年１月～１９９５年２月．对２２０例消化性溃疡出血病人进行了急诊内镜检查。急诊内镜检查在 ２４～４８ ｈ内完成。内镜所见的出血类型参照Ｆｏｒｒｅｓｔ所建议的分类标准，其中ＦⅠａ４例（１．８％）．ＦⅠｂ２８例（１２．７％），ＦⅡａ２８例（１２．７％）．ＦⅡｂ１２０例（５４．５％）和ＦⅢ ４０例（１８．２％）。结果显示，球部溃疡出血明显多于胃溃疡（６１８％比２９．１％， Ｐ ＜０． ００５）；出血发生率与年龄有明显关系，以中年组发生率最高，占６０％．依次为青年组（２９．１％），老年组（１０．９％）。出血征象ＦⅠａ以老年组居多．其他各型均以中年组占多数。     

Safety and efficacy of esophagogastroduodenoscopy after myocardial infarction.

PURPOSE: To analyze the risks versus benefits of esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed soon after myocardial infarction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 200 patients who underwent endoscopy within 30 days after myocardial infarction with 200 controls matched for age, sex, and endoscopic indication who underwent endoscopy without a history of myocardial infarction within the prior 6 months. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported. RESULTS: The indications for endoscopy included hematemesis in 88, melena in 43, fecal occult blood and anemia in 33, red blood per rectum in 13, abdominal pain in 13, and other indications in 10. Endoscopy was performed a mean (+/- SD) of 9.1 +/- 8.9 days after myocardial infarction, was diagnostic in 85% of all the patients, and was more frequently diagnostic when performed for hematemesis or melena than when performed for other indications (92% vs 71%, P <0.0003). Common diagnoses included duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, gastritis, and esophagitis. Fifteen post-myocardial infarction patients (7.5%) suffered endoscopic complications, including fatal ventricular tachycardia (n = 1), near respiratory arrest (n = 1), mild hypotension (n = 11), and moderate hypoxemia (n = 2), compared with three patients (1.5%) in the control group (OR = 5.3, CI = 1.5 to 19). Patients who had endoscopic complications after myocardial infarction had a significantly higher APACHE II score than those who did not (mean score of 17.3 +/- 5.8 vs 11.7 +/- 5.7, P <0.001). Endoscopic complications occurred in 21% (12 of 58) of post-myocardial infarction patients who were very ill (APACHE II score > or = 16) but in only 2% (3 of 142) of those whose condition was relatively stable (APACHE II score < or = 15, OR = 12; CI = 3.3 to 45). Hypotension before endoscopy and a high APACHE II score were independent risk factors for complications in post-myocardial infarction patients. CONCLUSIONS: Relatively stable patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and recent myocardial infarction can and should undergo esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Most endoscopic complications in these patients are cardiopulmonary, and they generally occur in very ill patients.     

Yield of dual endoscopy for positive fecal occult blood test

OBJECTIVES: Dual endoscopy is frequently performed on the same day in patients whose stools are found to be positive on fecal occult blood testing (FOBT). This is often done to localize the potential sources of GI bleed. The diagnostic yield of same day dual upper endoscopy (EGD) and lower endoscopy (colonoscopy) for the detection of positive FOBT is uncertain. In the era of cost-efficient medical practice, we investigated whether a more evidence-based and structured approach could be used to guide physicians to the workup of patients who present with positive FOBT. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 309 patients, and 260 patients from this population met our inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria included FOBT without acute GI hemorrhage, hematochezia, or melena. Patients were required to have had EGD and colonoscopy within the same day (<24 h). RESULTS: Of 260 patients, a total of 135 (52%) patients had positive findings on colonoscopy and a total of 42 (16.1%) patients had positive findings on EGD. Sixteen (6.1%) had positive EGD and negative colonoscopy; 109 (42%) had positive colonoscopy and negative EGD; and 26 (10%) had positive findings on both EGD and colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy should be chosen as the initial procedure of choice in the evaluation of patients who present with positive FOBT. Same day dual endoscopy does not seem to be cost-effective.     

Endotracheal intubation for airway protection during endoscopy for severe upper GI hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Aspiration of blood may cause significant morbidity during emergent endoscopy for severe upper GI bleeding. Endotracheal intubation is widely performed for airway protection in this setting, but there are few data regarding its efficacy. METHODS: Outcomes were compared for intensive care unit patients with upper GI bleeding for 1 year (1988) during which prophylactic endotracheal intubation was seldom performed before endoscopy, with outcomes during a subsequent year (1992) in which endotracheal intubation was routine for airway protection before or during EGD when there was hematemesis, altered mentation, unstable cardiopulmonary status, or large amounts of blood in the proximal GI tract, or before endoscopic treatment of lesions at high risk for bleeding. RESULTS: Background variables were similar for intensive care unit patients in 1988 (n = 101) and 1992 (n = 119) with respect to number of patients who had shock (respectively, 66.3% vs. 67.2%), cirrhosis (34.7% vs. 38.6%), variceal/portal hypertensive bleeding (22.8% vs. 33.6%), and endoscopic therapy (37.6% vs. 42.0%). Although use of endotracheal intubation specifically for EGD increased significantly between 1988 and 1992 (3.0% vs. 15.1%; p < 0.05), there were no significant changes in endotracheal intubation at any time during hospitalization (24.8% vs. 28.6%), in all EGD-related cardiopulmonary complications (5.0% vs. 3.4%), in new pulmonary infiltrates after EGD (12.9% vs. 15.1%), in mean number of intensive care unit days (7.1 vs. 6.4), or in mortality (15.9% vs. 11.8%). New infiltrates developed in 10 (48%) of 21 patients after EGD despite endotracheal intubation specifically for airway protection. However, in 1992 there were no fatal episodes of aspiration during EGD (2.0% vs. 0%; p = 0.21), no emergent post-EGD endotracheal intubation (6.0% vs. 0%; p < 0.05), and fewer in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests (12.9% vs. 5.0%; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Frequent use of endotracheal intubation for airway protection during EGD for upper GI bleeding requiring intensive care unit admission did not significantly change the relatively high frequency of acquired pneumonia or cardiopulmonary events, but may have prevented the rare fatal episode of massive aspiration. Endotracheal intubation may benefit selected patients with upper GI bleeding, but its specific role remains unclear, and alternative methods of airway protection should be investigated.     

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly]

Due to increasing number of the elderly, cases of hematemesis and melena in the aged have been increasing. The authors evaluated 69 such cases over 60 years old in whom emergency endoscopy of the upper digestive tract was carried out because of hematemesis and melena. Twenty cases are diagnosed as gastric ulcer (29%), 12 cases as esophageal ulcer and esophageal erosion (17.4%), 9 as duodenal ulcer (13.0%), 7 as gastric cancer (10.1%), 6 as Mallory-Weiss syndrome (8.7%), 6 as esophageal and gastric varices (8.7%), 4 as acute hemorrhagic gastritis (5.8%), 3 as Dieulafoy's ulcer (4.3%), and one case each of chronic pancreatitis (hemosuccus pancreaticus) and hemorrhage due to gastric angiodysplasia (1.4%). Of these cases, blood transfusion was performed in 46 cases (66.7%), and shock occurred in 27 cases (39.1%). The endoscopical hemostatic procedure was effective for detection of underlying diseases in the aged. Surgery was often impossible because of the rapid deterioration of the systemic condition due to the hemorrhage of the digestive tract.     

Fiberoptic Endoscopy of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Infants and Children

Fiberoptic endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed on 53 patients without incident, ranging in age between two months and 18 years, of whom 35 were out patients at the time of examination. Of 27 patients with recurrent abdominal pain and normal upper gastrointestinal series, eight had abnormal findings at endoscopy: a duodenal ulcer in four, a gastric ulcer in two and duodenitis in two. Of 18 patients with hematemesis and/or melena, esophageal varices were demonstrated both by endoscopy and x-ray in two, gastric ulcer by endoscopy in three and x-ray in one, duodenal ulcer by endoscopy in three and by x-ray in two, esophagitis by endoscopy only in one patient, erosive gastritis by endoscopy in five and by x-ray in two and duodenitis by endoscopy in three and by x-ray in two. Of the remaining eight patients with abnormal x-rays findings and other symptomatology, endoscopy demonstrated foreign bodies in two (coins, esophagus and stomach), duodenitis in two, a gastric ulcer in one, a duodenal ulcer in one and normal examination in two. The data indicate that fiberoptic endoscopy significantly improves diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract in children and is a safe and effective procedure in ambulatory pediatric patients.     

Symptoms in patients with peptic ulcer and hematemesis and/or melena related to the use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs

One hundred and seven consecutive patients with hematemesis and/or melena and a diagnosis of duodenal, gastric, or esophageal ulcers were interviewed immediately before or after endoscopy about the use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and symptoms before the hemorrhage. If the patients admitted no symptoms of abdominal pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting, or heartburn, they were classified as having no ulcer symptoms before the hemorrhage. Patients who had not taken NSAIDs during the last 48 h before the hemorrhage were classified as not having taken NSAIDs. Significantly fewer patients had ulcer symptoms in the group that had used NSAIDs than in the other group (p less than 0.01). This may be interpreted as a possible masking effect by NSAIDs on ulcer symptoms. Physicians and patients should be aware of this possible effect of NSAIDs.     

Gastrointestinal and Nongastrointestinal Complications of Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and Colonoscopy in the Real World: A Nationwide Standard Cohort Using the Common Data Model Database

Background/AimsThe global trend of an expanding aged population has increased concerns about complications correlated with gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy in elderly patients; however, there have been few reports published on this issue.MethodsIn this retrospective, observational cohort study performed between 2012 and 2017, serious complications of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, and colonoscopic polypectomy were compared between patients according to age (≥65 years vs 18–64 years). We used the Health Insurance Review and Assessment-National Patient Samples database, previously converted to the standardized Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership-Common Data Model. Serious complications within 30 days of the procedure included both GI complications (bleeding and perforation) and non-GI complications (cerebrovascular accident [CVA], acute myocardial infarction [AMI], congestive heart failure [CHF], and death).ResultsA total of 387,647 patients who underwent EGD, 241,094 who underwent colonoscopy, and 89,059 who underwent colonoscopic polypectomy were assessed as part of this investigation. During the study period, endoscopic procedures in the older group steadily increased in number in all endoscopy groups (all p<0.001). Further, pooled complication rates of bleeding, CVA, AMI, CHF, and death were approximately three times higher among older patients who underwent EGD or colonoscopy. Moreover, pooled complication rates of CVA, AMI, CHF, and death were approximately 2.2 to 5.0 times higher among older patients who underwent colonoscopic polypectomy.ConclusionsElderly patients experienced approximately three times more GI and non-GI complications after EGD or colonoscopy than young patients. Physicians should pay attention to the potential risks of GI endoscopy in elderly patients.     

Long-term Follow-up of Endoscopic Treatment for Bleeding Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers

Objective: To examine the long-term consequences of endoscopic therapy for bleeding peptic ulcers. Methods: Eighty-seven consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic treatment for bleeding gastric ulcer (GU) and/or duodenal ulcer (DU) over a 42-month period were identified. Long-term follow-up was available for 76 (mean, 495 days; SEM, 45 days). Therapy consisted of epinephrine injection, heater probe use, or both. Recurrent hemorrhage only at the primary treatment site was considered. Results: The sites of hemorrhage were GU (40 patients), DU (34 patients), and both (2 patients). Emergent surgery was required in two GU patients for whom endoscopic treatment was ineffective. Recurrent hemorrhage ultimately occurred in 33% of patients—40% of GU and 25% of DU patients. Surgical therapy was eventually required in 26% of patients after endoscopic he-mostasis and was more frequent in patients with recurrent hemorrhage from DU than GU (78% vs 56%). For those patients who re-bled within 8 days of the index endoscopy, 82% required surgery, compared with 33% of patients who re-bled more than 8 days after the index endoscopy ( p = 0.03). Conclusions: The rate of recurrent hemorrhage after endoscopic hemostasis for bleeding GU and DU was 33% in our long-term follow-up. After endoscopic hemostasis, surgery was eventually required in 24% of all patients and in 64% of patients who had recurrent hemorrhage. Patients who had recurrent hemorrhage more than 1 wk after initial endoscopic hemostasis were effectively treated by repeated endoscopic therapy and were significantly less likely to require surgery than patients who re-bled within 1 wk.     

Prognostic factors in upper gastrointestinal bleeding

In this study we examined factors of possible prognostic value about outcome in a consecutive series of 2217 patients with hematemesis and melena. Death occurred in 189 (8.5%) patients, and 243 (11%) patients experienced rebleeding. Death was significantly associated with rebleeding, age over 60 years, and the finding of blood in the stomach at endoscopy. Rebleeding was significantly associated with melena, identification of a gastric or duodenal ulcer, endoscopic stigmata of hemorrhage such as blood, clot, and active bleeding, and the finding of shock at admission. However, female gender, previous history of ulceration, or indigestion of ulcerogenic drugs, especially nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, were poor predictors of either death or rebleeding. We conclude that the identification of patients at a high risk could contribute to improved management of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, including early therapeutic intervention.     

Prior Endoscopy in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Celiac Disease: A Missed Opportunity?

Background

Celiac disease (CD) is under-diagnosed in the United States, and factors related to the performance of endoscopy may be contributory.

Aim

To identify newly diagnosed patients with CD who had undergone a prior esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and examine factors contributing to the missed diagnosis.

Methods

We identified all patients age ≥18 years whose diagnosis of CD was made by endoscopy with biopsy at our institution (n = 316), and searched the medical record for a prior EGD. We compared those patients with a prior EGD to those with without a prior EGD with regard to age at diagnosis and gender, and enumerated the indications for EGD.

Results

Of the 316 patients diagnosed by EGD with biopsy at our center, 17 (5 %) had previously undergone EGD. During the prior non-diagnostic EGD, a duodenal biopsy was not performed in 59 % of the patients, and ≥4 specimens (the recommended number) were submitted in only 29 % of the patients. On the diagnostic EGD, ≥4 specimens were submitted in 94 %. The mean age of diagnosis of those with missed/incident CD was 53.1 years, slightly older than those diagnosed with CD on their first EGD (46.8 years, p = 0.11). Both groups were predominantly female (missed/incident CD: 65 vs. 66 %, p = 0.94).

Conclusions

Among 17 CD patients who had previously undergone a non-diagnostic EGD, non-performance of duodenal biopsy during the prior EGD was the dominant feature. Routine performance of duodenal biopsy during EGD for the indications of dyspepsia and reflux may improve CD diagnosis rates.     

微米大黄炭胃镜下喷洒治疗消化性溃疡出血的临床观察

目的:观察胃镜下喷洒微米大黄炭治疗消化性溃疡出血的临床疗效.方法:90例消化性溃疡并出血的患者随机分为微米大黄炭组(治疗组)和去甲肾上腺素组(对照组),各45例,胃镜下观察两组患者的平均止血时间和止血成功率以及术后患者黑便、呕血的次数、血红蛋白量.结果:治疗组平均止血时间较对照组明显减少(P＜0.01),止血成功率明显升高(P＜0.01),达到96%;治疗组治疗后平均黑便、呕血的次数较对照组明显减少(P＜0.05);两组患者平均血红蛋白量比较无统计学差异(P＞0.05);治疗组止血疗效高于对照组(P＜0.01).结论:胃镜下喷洒微米大黄炭是治疗消化性溃疡出血的一种安全有效的治疗方法.