RESUMEN
Introduction: Variceal bleeding is a life-threatening complication of portal hypertension with a six-week mortality rate of approximately 20%. Aim: To analyse whether the changes introduced in the treatment of variceal gastrointestinal haemorrhage in our department affected the mortality rate of these patients. Method: A retrospective method was used to compare the data of patients treated with variceal bleeding in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, two changes were made in the treatment of patients with variceal bleeding: all patients were treated in the subintensive care unit and terlipressin was administered to all patients susceptible to variceal haemorrhage. Bleeding was mitigated by means of sclerotherapy and/or ligation. Significance was calculated using Student's t-test, then we performed logistic regression to find out what treatment factors affect mortality rate. Patients: 2014 vs. 2015 figures number of patients: 24 vs. 30, average age: 59.8 vs. 57.6 years, male (%): 70.8 vs. 66.7. There were no significant differences between the ChildPugh stages of the two years, p = 0.53. For the analysis we also grouped patients based on whether irrespective of the year of treatment they were administered terlipressin or not. Number of patients: 22 vs. 32, average age: 60.4 vs. 57.4, male (%): 63.6 vs. 70.6. Results: Mortality in 2015 and 2014: 23% and 33%, respectively. Mortality of patients treated with terlipressin: 18.2 vs. 34.4, p = 0.09. ChildPugh stages had the strongest influence on mortality (stage A vs. B p = 0.05, stage A vs. C p = 0.02). Terlipressin administered in ChildPugh stage C reduced mortality at a rate bordering on significance (p = 0.055). Conclusion: Despite the comparatively small number of cases, the changes introduced in our department in 2015 in the treatment of variceal gastrointestinal haemorrhages resulted in a significant reduction of hospital mortality rates. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(15): 583587.