Importance of risk assessment,endoscopic hemostasis,and recent advancements in the management of acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(ANVUGIB)is a common medical emergency in clinical practice.While the incidence has significantly reduced,the mortality rates have not undergone a similar reduction in the last few decades,thus presenting a significant challenge.This editorial outlines the key causes and risk factors of ANVUGIB and explores the current standards and recent updates in risk assessment scoring systems for predicting mortality and endoscopic treatments for achieving hemostasis.Since ANUVGIB predominantly affects the elderly population,the impact of comorbidities may be responsible for the poor outcomes.A thorough drug history is important due to the increasing use of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants in the elderly.Early risk stratification plays a crucial role in deciding the line of management and predicting mortality.Emerging scoring systems such as the ABC(age,blood tests,co-morbidities)score show promise in predicting mortality and guiding clinical decisions.While conventional endoscopic therapies remain cornerstone approaches,novel techniques like hemostatic powders and over-the-scope clips offer promising alternatives,particularly in cases refractory to traditional modalities.By integrating validated scoring systems and leveraging novel therapeutic modalities,clinicians can enhance patient care and mitigate the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with ANVUGIB.

Clinical characteristics of acute non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the effect of endoscopic hemostasis

BACKGROUND Acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(ANVUGIB)constitutes a prevalent emergency within Gastroenterology,encompassing 80%-90%of all gastrointestinal hemorrhage incidents.This condition is distinguished by its abrupt onset,swift progression,and notably elevated mortality rate.AIM To gather clinical data from patients with ANVUGIB at our hospital in order to elucidate the clinical characteristics specific to our institution and analyze the therapeutic effectiveness of endoscopic hemostasis.METHODS We retrospectively retrieved the records of 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB by endoscopy at our hospital between March 2021 and March 2023,utilizing our medical record system.Data pertaining to general patient information,etiological factors,disease outcomes,and other relevant variables were meticulously collected and analyzed.RESULTS Among the 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB,the male-to-female ratio was 2.91:1,with a higher prevalence among males.Notably,43.6%of patients presented with black stool as their primary complaint,while 27.4%had hematemesis as their initial symptom.Upon admission,17%of patients exhibited both hematemesis and black stool,while most ANVUGIB patients primarily complained of overt gastrointestinal bleeding.Urgent routine blood examinations at admission revealed that 75.8%of patients had anemia,with 63.4%experiencing moderate to severe anemia,and 1.5%having extremely severe anemia(hemoglobin<30 g/L).With regard to etiology,53.2%of patients experienced bleeding without a definitive trigger,24.2%had a history of using gastric mucosa-irritating medications,24.2%developed bleeding after alcohol consumption,2.8%attributed it to improper diet,1.7%to emotional excitement,and 2.3%to fatigue preceding the bleeding episode.Drug-induced ANVUGIB was more prevalent in the elderly than middle-aged and young individuals,while bleeding due to alcohol consumption showed the opposite trend.Additionally,diet-related bleeding was more common among the young age group compared to the middle-aged group.Gastrointestinal endoscopy identified peptic ulcers as the most frequent cause of ANVUGIB(73.3%),followed by gastrointestinal malignancies(10.9%),acute gastric mucous lesions(9.8%),and androgenic upper gastrointestinal bleeding(1.5%)among inpatients with ANVUGIB.Of the 532 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding,68 underwent endoscopic hemostasis,resulting in an endoscopic treatment rate of 12.8%,with a high immediate hemostasis success rate of 94.1%.

Efficacy and safety of over-the-scope-clips in the therapy of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding:Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(ANVUGIB)is a frequent lifethreatening acute condition in gastroenterology associated with high morbidity and mortality.Over-the-scope-clip(OTSC)is a new endoscopic hemostasis technique,which is being used in ANVUGIB and is more effective.AIM To summarize and analyze the effects of the OTSC in prevention of recurrent bleeding,clinical success rate,procedure time,hospital stay,and adverse events in the treatment of ANVUGIB,to evaluate whether OTSC can replace standard endoscopic therapy as a new generation of treatment for ANVUGIB.METHODS The literature related to OTSC and standard therapy for ANVUGIB published before January 2023 was searched in PubMed,Web of Science,EMBASE,Cochrane,Google,and CNKI databases.Changes in recurrent bleeding(7 or 30 days),clinical results(clinical success rate,conversion rate to surgery,mortality),therapy time(procedure time,hospital stay),and adverse events in the OTSC intervention group were summarized and analyzed,and the MD or OR of 95%CI is calculated by Review Manager 5.3.RESULTS This meta-analysis involved 11 studies with 1266 patients.Total risk of bias was moderate-to-high.For patients in the OTSC group,7-and 30-days recurrent bleeding rates,as well as procedure time,hospital stay,and intensive care unit stay,were greatly inhibited.OTSC could significantly improve the clinical success rate of ANVUGIB.OTSC therapy did not cause serious adverse and was effective in reducing patient mortality.CONCLUSION OTSC may provide more rapid and sustained hemostasis,and thus,promote recovery and reduce mortality in patients with ANVUGIB.In addition,the safety of OTSC is assured.

Advancements in hemostatic strategies for managing upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A comprehensive review

Upper gastrointestinal(GI)hemorrhage presents a substantial clinical challenge.Initial management typically involves resuscitation and endoscopy within 24 h,although the benefit of very early endoscopy(<12 h)for high-risk patients is debated.Treatment goals include stopping acute bleeding,preventing rebleeding,and using a multimodal approach encompassing endoscopic,pharmacological,angiographic,and surgical methods.Pharmacological agents such as vasopressin,prostaglandins,and proton pump inhibitors are effective,but the increase in antithrombotic use has increased GI bleeding morbidity.Endoscopic hemostasis,particularly for nonvariceal bleeding,employs techniques such as electrocoagu-lation and heater probes,with concerns over tissue injury from monopolar electrocoagulation.Novel methods such as Hemospray and Endoclot show promise in creating mechanical tamponades but have limitations.Currently,the first-line therapy includes thermal probes and hemoclips,with over-the-scope clips emerging for larger ulcer bleeding.The gold probe,combining bipolar electrocoagulation and injection,offers targeted coagulation but has faced device-related issues.Future advancements involve combining techniques and improving endoscopic imaging,with studies exploring combined approaches showing promise.Ongoing research is crucial for developing standardized and effective hemorrhage management strategies.

Clinical landscape and treatment of acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding:Insights from a high-volume center in Shaanxi,China

In this editorial we comment on the article by Wang et al,recently published on World Journal of Clinical Cases.Acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(ANVUGIB)represents a common and potentially serious gastroenterological emergency.Wang et al conducted a detailed study on the management of AN-VUGIB in a high-volume center in the Shaanxi region,China.Analyzing data from over 530 patients provided a comprehensive overview of clinical,epidemio-logical,and treatment characteristics.Results highlighted a younger patient population compared to European studies,with a higher prevalence of gastric and duodenal ulcers as the leading cause of bleeding.Endoscopic treatment is cur-rently the preferred therapeutic option,offering a variety of effective techniques.This study emphasizes the importance of implementing current guidelines in ANVUGIB management and highlights the crucial role of endoscopy in its management.

MH-STRALP:A scoring system for prognostication in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding

BACKGROUND Upper gastrointestinal bleeding(UGIB)is a common medical emergency and early assessment of its outcomes is vital for treatment decisions.AIM To develop a new scoring system to predict its prognosis.METHODS In this retrospective study,692 patients with UGIB were enrolled from two cen-ters and divided into a training(n=591)and a validation cohort(n=101).The clinical data were collected to develop new prognostic prediction models.The en-dpoint was compound outcome defined as(1)demand for emergency surgery or vascular intervention,(2)being transferred to the intensive care unit,or(3)death during hos-pitalization.The models’predictive ability was compared with previously esta-blished scores by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.RESULTS Totally 22.2%(131/591)patients in the training cohort and 22.8%(23/101)in the validation cohort presented poor outcomes.Based on the stepwise-forward Lo-gistic regression analysis,eight predictors were integrated to determine a new post-endoscopic prognostic scoring system(MH-STRALP);a nomogram was de-termined to present the model.Compared with the previous scores(GBS,Rock-all,ABC,AIMS65,and PNED score),MH-STRALP showed the best prognostic prediction ability with area under the ROC curves(AUROCs)of 0.899 and 0.826 in the training and validation cohorts,respectively.According to the calibration cur-ve,decision curve analysis,and internal cross-validation,the nomogram showed good calibration ability and net clinical benefit in both cohorts.After removing the endoscopic indicators,the pre-endoscopic model(pre-MH-STRALP score)was conducted.Similarly,the pre-MHSTRALP score showed better predictive value(AUROCs of 0.868 and 0.767 in the training and validation cohorts,respectively)than the other pre-endoscopic scores.CONCLUSION The MH-STRALP score and pre-MH-STRALP score are simple,convenient,and accurate tools for prognosis prediction of UGIB,and may be applied for early decision on its management strategies.

Comparative Analysis of Continuous versus Intermittent Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy in Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due to Ulcers

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) presents as a prevalent clinical challenge, with annual incidence rates ranging from 80 to 150 cases per 100,000 individuals. Guidelines for managing patients with UGIB due to bleeding ulcers recommend a continuous infusion of proton pump inhibitors (PPI). However, studies comparing intermittent dosing of PPI therapy show that this regimen achieves similar clinical benefits. If the clinical efficacy remains equivalent, intermittent dosing will be more cost-effective for patients and the health care system. Our research study aims to analyze the comparative effectiveness of intermittent versus continuous PPI therapy after endoscopic treatment in patients with UGIB, focusing on such endpoints as rebleeding risk at 3-and 7-day mortality rates. Methods: Resources searched included MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from January 2010 through December 2023 with the inclusion of meta-analysis, systematic review, review, or ACG guideline recommendations. Results of the analysis show how recommendations regarding high vs. low PPI regimen changed over time: from no difference in regimen in 2010 to recommending continuous regimen in 2012 to declaring insufficient evidence between choosing one regimen over another in 2013 to determine that both regimens were comparable to each other in 2014-2018 and finally to recommending both regimens in 2021. To conclude, our review shows that in patients with bleeding ulcers and high-risk endoscopic findings, intermittent PPI therapy is non-inferior to continuous PPI infusion for three days, seven days bleeding risk or mortality rates;however, it remains challenging to determine the most optimal intermittent regimen due to heterogeneity of RCTs included in meta-analyses, and further trials will need to be performed.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Bangladeshi children:Analysis of 100 cases

BACKGROUND Upper gastrointestinal bleeding(UGIB)is defined as bleeding that occurs proximal to the ligament of Treitz and can sometimes lead to potentially serious and life-threatening clinical situations in children.Globally,the cause of UGIB differs significantly depending on the geographic location,patient population and presence of comorbid conditions.AIM To observe endoscopic findings of UGIB in children at a tertiary care center of Bangladesh.METHODS This retrospective study was carried out in the department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition of Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University,a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh,between January 2017 and January 2019.Data collected from hospital records of 100 children who were 16 years of age or younger,came with hematemesis,melena or both hematemesis and melena.All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy(Olympus CV 1000 upper gastrointestinal video endoscope)after initial stabilization.Necessary investigations to diagnose portal hypertension and chronic liver disease with underlying causes for management purposes were also done.RESULTS A total of 100 patients were studied.UGIB was common in the age group 5-10 years(42%),followed by above 10 years(37%).Hematemesis was the most common presenting symptom(75%)followed by both hematemesis and melena(25%).UGIB from ruptured esophageal varices was the most common cause(65%)on UGI endoscopy followed by gastric erosion(5%)and prolapsed gastropathy(2%).We observed that 23%of children were normal after endoscopic examination.CONCLUSION Ruptured esophageal varices were the most common cause of UGIB in children in Bangladesh.Other causes included gastric erosions and prolapsed gastropathy syndrome.

Application Effect of Staged Health Education in the Nursing Care of Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Objective:To investigate the application effect of staged health education in the care of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.Methods:This study takes health education in the care of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding as the main direction.160 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding who received treatment in our hospital were selected as samples,and the grouping software was used to divide them into the reference group and the study group,with 80 patients each.The reference group and the study group used routine health education and staged health education respectively.Relevant research data were recorded during the nursing process,analyzed,and used as research indicators.Results:The compliance behavior of the study group was higher than that of the reference group after the staged nursing care,and at the same time,the nursing care satisfaction of the study group was higher than that of the reference group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The use of staged health education for the care of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding not only enhances the degree of patient awareness and compliance but also improves nursing satisfaction,which is worthy of promotion and application.

A Study on the Effect of Staged Enteral Nutrition Health Education on the Rehabilitation of Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Objective:To analyze the influence of stage-specific enteral nutrition health education on the rehabilitation outcomes of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding(UGIB).Methods:A total of 120 patients with UGIB,treated between August 2021 and August 2023,were randomly divided into two groups:the observation group and the control group.The control group received standard enteral nutrition nursing intervention,while the observation group received an additional stage-specific enteral nutrition health education intervention based on the control group’s method.The intervention status of the two groups was then evaluated.Results:Before the intervention,the serum hemoglobin levels of the two groups were comparable(P>0.05).After the intervention,the nutritional indicators in the observation group improved significantly and were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).Additionally,the observation group had shorter bed activity times and hospitalization periods,a lower rate of abandonment of nutritional preparations,and a higher quality of life compared to the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The implementation of stage-specific enteral nutrition health education in the treatment of patients with UGIB helps accelerate the rate of recovery,improve nutritional indexes,and enhance the quality of life of patients.

Rare causes of acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A comprehensive review

Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(NVUGIB)is a common gastroenterological emergency associated with significant morbidity and mortality.Gastroenterologists and other involved clinicians are generally assisted by international guidelines in its management.However,NVUGIB due to peptic ulcer disease only is mainly addressed by current guidelines,with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy being recommended as the gold standard modality for both diagnosis and treatment.Conversely,the management of rare and extraordinary rare causes of NVUGIB is not covered by current guidelines.Given they are frequently lifethreatening conditions,all the involved clinicians,that is emergency physicians,diagnostic and interventional radiologists,surgeons,in addition obviously to gastroenterologists,should be aware of and familiar with their management.Indeed,they typically require a prompt diagnosis and treatment,engaging a dedicated,patient-tailored,multidisciplinary team approach.The aim of our review was to extensively summarize the current evidence with regard to the management of rare and extraordinary rare causes of NVUGIB.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by esophageal right bronchial artery fistula:A case report

BACKGROUND Fistula between the esophagus and bronchial artery is an extremely rare and potentially life-threatening cause of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.Here,we report a case of fistula formation between the esophagus and a nonaneurysmal right bronchial artery(RBA).CASE SUMMARY An 80-year-old woman with previous left pneumonectomy and recent placement of an uncovered self-expandable metallic stent for esophageal adenocarcinoma was admitted due to hematemesis.Emergent computed tomography showed indirect signs of fistulization between the esophagus and a nonaneurysmal RBA,in the absence of active bleeding.Endoscopy revealed the esophageal stent correctly placed and a moderate amount of red blood within the stomach,in the absence of active bleeding or tumor ingrowth/overgrowth.After prompt multidisciplinary evaluation,a step-up approach was planned.The bleeding was successfully controlled by esophageal restenting followed by RBA embolization.No signs of rebleeding were observed and the patient was discharged home with stable hemoglobin level on postoperative day 7.CONCLUSION This was a previously unreported case of an esophageal RBA fistula successfully managed by esophageal restenting followed by RBA embolization.

Role of multidetector computed tomography angiography in nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding:A comprehensive review

Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(NVUGIB)is a common gastroenterological emergency associated with significant morbidity and mortality.Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is currently recommended as the gold standard modality for both diagnosis and treatment,with computed tomography traditionally playing a limited role in the diagnosis of acute NVUGIB.Following the introduction of multidetector computed tomography(MDCT),this modality is emerging as a promising tool in the diagnosis of NVUGIB.However,to date,evidence concerning the role of MDCT in the NVUGIB diagnosis is still lacking.The aim of our study was to review the current evidence concerning the role of MDCT in the diagnosis of acute NVUGIB.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in octοgenarians:Clinical outcome and factors related to mortality

AIM: To evaluate the aetiology, clinical outcome and factors related to mortality of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) in octogenarians. METHODS: We reviewed the records of all patients over 65 years old who were hospitalised with AUGIB in two hospitals from January 2006 to December of 2006. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (65-80 years old) and Group B (> 80 years old). RESULTS: Four hundred and sixteen patients over 65 years of age were hospitalized because of AUGIB. Group A included 269 patients and Group B 147 patients. Co-morbidity was more common in octogenarians (P = 0.04). The main cause of bleeding was peptic ulcer in both groups. Rebleeding and emergency surgery were uncommon in octogenarians and not different from those in younger patients. In-hospital complications were more common in octogenarians (P = 0.05) and more patients died in the group of octogenarians compared to the younger age group (P = 0.02). Inability to perform endoscopic examination (P = 0.002), presence of high risk for rebleeding stigmata (P = 0.004), urea on admission (P = 0.036), rebleeding (P = 0.004) and presenceof severe co-morbidity (P < 0.0001) were related to mortality. In multivariate analysis, only the presence of severe co-morbidity was independently related to mortality (P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: While rebleeding and emergency surgery rates are relatively low in octogenarians with AUGIB, the presence of severe co-morbidity is the main factor of adverse outcome.

Validation of the Rockall scoring system for outcomes from non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a Canadian setting

AIM: To validate the Rockall scoring system for predicting outcomes of rebleeding, and the need for a surgical procedure and death. METHODS: We used data extracted from the Registry of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Endoscopy including information of 1869 patients with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding treated in Canadian hospitals. Risk scores were calculated and used to classify patients based on outcomes. For each outcome, we used χ2 goodness-of-fit tests to assess the degree of calibration, and built receiver operating characteristic curves and calculated the area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate the discriminative ability of the scoring system. RESULTS: For rebleeding, the χ2 goodness-of-fit test indicated an acceptable fit for the model [χ2 (8) = 12.83, P = 0.12]. For surgical procedures [χ2 (8) = 5.3, P = 0.73] and death [χ2 (8) = 3.78, P = 0.88], the tests showed solid correspondence between observed proportions and predicted probabilities. The AUC was 0.59 (95% CI: 0.55-0.62) for the outcome of rebleeding and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.54-0.67) for surgical procedures, representing apoor discriminative ability of the scoring system. For the outcome of death, the AUC was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.69-0.78), indicating an acceptable discriminative ability. CONCLUSION: The Rockall scoring system provides an acceptable tool to predict death, but performs poorly for endpoints of rebleeding and surgical procedures.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding etiology score for predicting variceal and non-variceal bleeding

AIM： To identify clinical parameters, and develop an Upper Gastrointesinal Bleeding （UGIB） Etiology Score for predicting the types of UGIB and validate the score. METHODS： Patients with UGIB who underwent endoscopy within 72 h were enrolled. Clinical and basic laboratory parameters were prospectively collected. Predictive factors for the types of UGIB were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses and were used to generate the UGIB Etiology Score. The best cutoff of the score was defined from the receiver operating curve and prospectively validated in another set of patients with UGIB. RESULTS： Among 261 patients with UGIB, 47 （18%） had variceal and 214 （82%） had non-variceal bleeding. Univariate analysis identified 27 distinct parameters significantly associated with the types of UGIB. Logistic regression analysis identified only 3 independent factors for predicting variceal bleeding; previous diagnosis of cirrhosis or signs of chronic liver disease （OR 22.4, 95% CI 8.3-60.4, P 〈 0.001）, red vomitus （OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.8-11.9, P = 0.02）, and red nasogastric （NG） aspirate （OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.3-8.3, P = 0.011）. The UGIB Etiology Score was calculated from （3.1× previous diagnosis of cirrhosis or signs of chronic liver disease） ＋ （1.5× red vomitus） ＋ （1.2× red NG aspirate）, when 1 and 0 are used for the presence and absence of each factor, respectively. Using a cutoff ≥ 3.1, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value （PPV）, and negative predictive value （NPV） in predicting variceal bleeding were 85%, 81%, 82%, 50%, and 96%, respectively. The score was prospectively validated in cases （46 variceal and 149 another set of 195 UGIB non-variceal bleeding）. The PPV and NPV of a score ≥ 3.1 for variceal bleeding were 79% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSION： The UGIB Etiology Score, composed of 3 parameters, using a cutoff ≥ 3.1 accurately predicted variceal bleeding and may help to guide the choice of initial therapy for UGIB before endoscopy.

Characteristics and outcomes of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding after therapeutic endoscopy in the elderly

AIM: To characterize the effects of age on clinical presentations and endoscopic diagnoses and to determine outcomes after endoscopic therapy among patients aged ≥ 65 years admitted for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) compared with those aged < 65 years. METHODS: Medical records and an endoscopy data-base of 526 consecutive patients with overt UGIB admitted during 2007-2009 were reviewed. The initial presentations and clinical course within 30 d after endoscopy were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 235 patients aged ≥ 65 years constituted the elderly population (mean age of 74.2 ± 6.7 years, 63% male). Compared to young patients, the elderly patients were more likely to present with melena (53% vs 30%, respectively; P < 0.001), have comorbidities (69% vs 54%, respectively; P < 0.001), and receive antiplatelet agents (39% vs 10%, respectively; P < 0.001). Interestingly, hemodynamic instability was observed less in this group (49% vs 68%, respectively; P < 0.001). Peptic ulcer was the leading cause of UGIB in the elderly patients, followed by varices and gastropathy. The elderly and young patients had a similar clinical course with regard to the utilization of endoscopic therapy, requirement for transfusion, duration of hospital stay, need for surgery [relative risk (RR), 0.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.03-2.75; P = 0.26], rebleeding (RR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.92-2.25; P = 0.11), and mortality (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.57-2.11; P = 0.77). In Cox's regression analysis, hemodynamic instability at presentation, background of liver cirrhosis or disseminated malignancy, transfusion requirement, and development of rebleeding were significantly associated with 30-d mortality. CONCLUSION: Despite multiple comorbidities and the concomitant use of antiplatelets in the elderly patients, advanced age does not appear to influence adverse outcomes of acute UGIB after therapeutic endoscopy.

Endoscopic findings in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding clinically classified into three risk groups prior to endoscopy

AIM: To investigate in a prospective study whether a simplifi ed clinical score prior to endoscopy in upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) patients was able to predict endoscopic findings at urgent endoscopy. METHODS: All consecutive UGIB patients referred to a single endoscopic center during a 16 mo period were enrolled. Before endoscopy patients were strati- fied according to a simple clinical score (T-score), including T1 (high-risk), T2 (intermediate-risk) and T3 (low-risk). Endoscopy was performed in all cases within 2 h, and high-risk stigmata were considered for further analysis. RESULTS: Out of the 436 patients included into the study, 126 (29%) resulted to be T1, 135 (31%) T2, and 175 (40%) T3. Overall, stigmata of recent haem-orrhage (SRH) were detected in 118 cases (27%). SRH occurred more frequently in T1 patients than in T2/T3 cases (85% vs 3.2%; χ2 = 304.5309, P < 0.001). Older age (t=3.311; P < 0.01) and presence of comor-bidities (χ2 = 14.7458; P < 0.01) were more frequently detected in T1 than in T2/T3 patients. CONCLUSION: Our simplifi ed clinical score appeared to be associated with the detection of endoscopic findings which may deserve urgent endoscopy. A further,randomised study is needed to assess its accuracy in safely scheduling endoscopy in UGIB patients.

Endoscopic advances in the management of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding:A review

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is defined as the bleeding originating from the esophagus to the ligament of Treitz and further classified into variceal and nonvariceal gastrointestinal bleeding.Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding remains a common clinical problem globally.It is associated with high mortality,morbidity,and cost of the health care system.Despite the continuous improvement of therapeutic endoscopy,the 30-d readmission rate secondary to rebleeding and associated mortality is an ongoing issue.Available Food and Drug Administration approved traditional or conventional therapeutic endoscopic modalities includes epinephrine injection,argon plasma coagulation,heater probe,and placement of through the scope clip,which can be used alone or in combination to decrease the risk of rebleeding.Recently,more attention has been paid to the novel advanced endoscopic devices for primary treatment of the bleeding lesion and as a secondary measure when conventional therapies fail to achieve hemostasis.This review highlights emerging endoscopic modalities used in the management of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal related bleeding such as over-the-scope clip,Coagrasper,hemostatic sprays,radiofrequency ablation,cryotherapy,endoscopic suturing devices,and endoscopic ultrasound-guided angiotherapy.In this review article,we will also discuss the technical aspects of the common procedures,outcomes in terms of safety and efficacy,and their advantages and limitations in the setting of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Giant splenic artery aneurysm presenting with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Splenic artery aneurysm(SAA)and pseudoaneurysm are rare vessel’s lesions.Pseudoaneurysm is often symptomatic and secondary to pancreatitis or trauma.True SAA is the most common aneurysm of visceral vessels.In contrast to pseudoaneurysm,SAA is usually asymptomatic until the rupture,with high mortality rate.The clinical onset of SSA’s rupture is a massive life-threatening bleeding with hemodynamic instability,usually into the free peritoneal space and more rarely into the gastrointestinal tract.CASE SUMMARY We describe the case of a 35-year-old male patient,with negative past medical history,who presented to the emergency department for massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding,severe anemia and hypotension.An esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed in emergency showed a gastric bulging in the greater curvature/posterior wall with a small erosion on its surface,with a visible vessel,but no active bleeding.Endoscopic injection therapy with cyanoacrylate glue was performed.Urgent contrast-enhanced computed tomography was carried out due to the clinical scenario and the unclear endoscopic aspect:The radiological examination showed a giant SAA which was adherent to posterior stomach wall,and some smaller aneurysms of the left gastric and ileocolic artery.Because of the high risk of a two-stage rupture of the giant SAA with dramatic outcome,the patient underwent immediate open surgery with aneurysmectomy,splenectomy and distal pancreatectomy with a good postoperative outcome.CONCLUSION The management of a ruptured giant SAA into the stomach can be successful with surgical approach.