Clinical characteristics of Helicobacter pylori-negative drugnegative peptic ulcer bleeding

AIM:To investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of idiopathic Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)-negative and drug-negative]peptic ulcer bleeding(PUB).METHODS:A consecutive series of patients who experienced PUB between 2006 and 2012 was retrospectively analyzed.A total of 232 patients were enrolled in this study.The patients were divided into four groups according to the etiologies of PUB:idiopathic,H.pylori-associated,drug-induced and combined(H.pylori-associated and drug-induced)types.We compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes between the groups.When the silver stain or rapid urease tests were H.pylori-negative,we obtained an additional biopsy specimen by endoscopic re-examination and performed an H.pylori antibody test 6-8 wk after the initial endoscopic examination.For a diagnosis of idiopathic PUB,a negative result of an H.pylori antibody test was confirmed.In all cases,re-bleeding was confirmed by endoscopic examination.For the risk assessment,the Blatchford and the Rockall scores were calculated for all patients.RESULTS:For PUB,the frequency of H.pylori infection was 59.5%(138/232),whereas the frequency of idiopathic cases was 8.6%(20/232).When idiopathic PUB was compared to H.pylori-associated PUB,the idiopathic PUB group showed a higher rate of rebleeding after initial hemostasis during the hospital stay(30%vs 7.4%,P = 0.02).When idiopathic PUB was compared to drug-induced PUB,the patients in the idiopathic PUB group showed a higher rate of rebleeding after initial hemostasis upon admission(30%vs 2.7%,P < 0.01).When drug-induced PUB was compared to H.pylori-associated PUB,the patients in the drug-induced PUB were older(68.49 ± 14.76 years vs 47.83 ± 15.15 years,P< 0.01) and showed a higher proportion of gastric ulcer(77%vs 49%,P < 0.01).However,the Blatchford and the Rockall scores were not significantly different between the two groups.Among the patients who experienced drug-induced PUB,no significant differences were found with respect to clinical characteristics,irrespective of H.pylori infection.CONCLUSION:Idiopathic PUB has unique clinical characteristics such as re-bleeding after initial hemostasis upon admission.Therefore,these patients need to undergo close surveillance upon admission.

Unilateral versus bilateral Y-type stent-in-stent metal stent insertions in inoperable malignant hilar biliary strictures:A multicenter retrospective study

Background:To date,there is controversy regarding unilateral versus bilateral stent placement in patients with malignant hilar biliary strictures(MHBSs).The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes and complications of unilateral and bilateral(stent-in-stent method)stent placements for these patients.Methods:We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with inoperable MHBS who underwent endoscopic self-expandable metal stent(SEMS)placement from January 2009 to December 2019.Two groups classified according to the stent procedure method were compared for demographic,procedural,and postprocedure factors.Survival analysis for patency loss and overall survival was also conducted.Results:A total of 236 subjects were included.A superior technical success rate was found in the unilateral stent group(98.8%vs.82.5%,P<0.001),whereas the clinical success rate was higher in the bilateral group(85.7%vs.70.5%,P=0.028).There was no significant difference with respect to complications or patency loss,and the bilateral group had better overall survival(P<0.01).In the Cox proportional hazard model,MHBSs from lymph node compression were associated with a higher risk of death(HR=9.803,P=0.003).In contrast,bilateral SEMS insertion showed reduced postprocedural mortality(HR=0.316,P=0.001).Conclusions:Y-type stent-in-stent bilateral SEMSs are technically difficult but demonstrated more favorable overall survival for palliative bile drainage of inoperable MHBS patients compared to unilateral insertions.