Doppler Endoscopic Probe Monitoring of Blood Flow Improves Risk Stratification and Outcomes of Patients With Severe Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: For 4 decades, stigmata of recent hemorrhage in patients with nonvariceal lesions have been used for risk stratification and endoscopic hemostasis. The arterial blood flow that underlies the stigmata rarely is monitored, but can be used to determine risk for rebleeding. We performed a randomized controlled trial to determine whether Doppler endoscopic probe monitoring of blood flow improves risk stratification and outcomes in patients with severe nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. METHODS: In a single-blind study performed at 2 referral centers we assigned 148 patients with severe nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (125 with ulcers, 19 with Dieulafoy's lesions, and 4 with Mallory Weiss tears) to groups that underwent standard, visually guided endoscopic hemostasis (control, n = 76), or endoscopic hemostasis assisted by Doppler monitoring of blood flow under the stigmata (n = 72). The primary outcome was the rate of rebleeding after 30 days; secondary outcomes were complications, death, and need for transfusions, surgery, or angiography. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the rates of lesion rebleeding within 30 days of endoscopic hemostasis in the control group (26.3%) vs the Doppler group (11.1%) (P = .0214). The odds ratio for rebleeding with Doppler monitoring was 0.35 (95% confidence interval, 0.143-0.8565) and the number needed to treat was 7. CONCLUSIONS: In a randomized controlled trial of patients with severe upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage from ulcers or other lesions, Doppler probe guided endoscopic hemostasis significantly reduced 30-day rates of rebleeding compared with standard, visually guided hemostasis. Guidelines for nonvariceal gastrointestinal bleeding should incorporate these results. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT00732212 (CLIN-013-07F).

Risk Factors Associated with Mortality and Increased Drug Costs in Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine risk factors associated with mortality and increased drug costs in patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. METHODOLOGY: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients hospitalized with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding between January 2001-December 2011. Demographic and clinical characteristics and drug costs were documented. Univariate analysis determined possible risk factors for mortality. Statistically significant variables were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Multiple linear regression analyzed factors influencing drug costs. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study included data from 627 patients. Risk factors associated with increased mortality were age > 60, systolic blood pressure<100 mmHg, lack of endoscopic examination, comorbidities, blood transfusion, and rebleeding. Drug costs were higher in patients with rebleeding, blood transfusion, and prolonged hospital stay. CONCLUSION: In this patient cohort, re-bleeding rate is 11.20% and mortality is 5.74%. The mortality risk in patients with comorbidities was higher than in patients without comorbidities, and was higher in patients requiring blood transfusion than in patients not requiring transfusion. Rebleeding was associ-ated with mortality. Rebleeding, blood transfusion, and prolonged hospital stay were associated with increased drug costs, whereas bleeding from lesions in the esophagus and duodenum was associated with lower drug costs.

Performance of the Glasgow-Blatchford score in predicting clinical outcomes and intervention in hospitalized patients with upper GI bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding the utility of the Glasgow-Blatchford bleeding score (GBS) in hospitalized patients with upper GI hemorrhage are limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of the GBS in predicting clinical outcomes and the need for interventions in patients with upper GI hemorrhage. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Single, tertiary-care endoscopic center. PATIENTS: Between July 2010 and July 2012, 888 consecutive hospitalized patients managed for upper GI hemorrhage were entered into the study. INTERVENTION: GBS and Rockall scores. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: GBS and Rockall scores were prospectively calculated. The performance of these scores to predict the need for interventions and outcomes was assessed by using a receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: Endoscopy was performed in 708 patients (80%). A total of 286 patients (40.3%) required endoscopic therapy, and 29 patients (3.8%) underwent surgery. GBS and post-endoscopy Rockall scores (post-E RS) were superior to pre-endoscopy Rockall scores in predicting the need for endoscopic therapy (area under the curve [AUC] 0.76 vs 0.76 vs 0.66, respectively) and rebleeding (AUC 0.71 vs 0.64 vs 0.57). The GBS was superior to Rockall scores in predicting the need for blood transfusion (AUC 0.81 vs 0.70 vs 0.68) and surgery (AUC 0.71 vs 0.64 vs 0.51). Patients with GBS scores ≤ 3 did not require intervention. LIMITATIONS: Subjective decision making as to need for endoscopic therapy and blood transfusion. CONCLUSION: Compared with post-E RS, the GBS was superior in predicting the need for blood transfusion and surgery in hospitalized patients with upper GI hemorrhage and was equivalent in predicting the need for endoscopic therapy, rebleeding, and death. There are potential cutoff GBS scores that allow risk stratification for upper GI hemorrhage, which warrant further evaluation.

Natural history of Mallory-Weiss tear in African American and Hispanic patients.

The aim of this study was to determine the natural history of Mallory-Weiss tear (MWT) in African American and Hispanic patients. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding over a 10-year period. Endoscopic diagnosis of MWT was made in 12% (n = 698) of all patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. More than half of our patients with MWT did not have a preceding history of retching or vomiting. Bleeding episodes were hemodynamically significant in 216 (31%) patients. Most of the patients with MWT (80%) had an uneventful and short hospital stay (range, 1-4 days). Recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding within 30 days occurred in 84 (12%) patients. Overall mortality was 10%; endoscopic hemostasis failure and associated comorbidities were the common culprits.

[Endoscopic methods of hemostasis in treatment of Mallory-Weiss syndrome].

Results of treatment of Mallory-Weiss syndrome using endoscopic methods of hemostasis in 549 patients were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: in 2000-2004 years without endoscopic methods, in 2004-2008 years using the endoscopic methods in the diagnostics and treatment. Considerably decreased operative activity and death rate was established in cases of treatment with endoscopic methods.

Endoscopic hemostasis with metallic hemoclips for iatrogenic Mallory-Weiss tear caused by endoscopic examination.

AIM: Applied endoscopic techniques including mucosal resection, sclerotherapy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) have been advanced and iatrogenic complications including Mallory-Weiss tear (MWT) occasionally occur in daily endoscopic procedures. The present study aimed to examine the advantages of clipping for MWT complications that occur during endoscopic examination. METHODS: Over 10 years, we experienced 47 patients with bleeding caused by MWT. Metallic hemoclips were applied for 38 patients for hemostasis. These patients were categorized into two groups: 18 patients in group A whose bleeding tear occurred during endoscopic examination in an iatrogenic condition, and 20 patients in group B visited the emergency unit due to other etiology of MWT. RESULTS: The background characteristics, including length of tears, were not different between the two groups. Initial hemostasis was 100% in groups A and B. Rebleeding was 0/18 (0%) in group A and 1/20 (5 %) in group B. Number of patients who received blood transfusion was significantly higher in group B (group A: 0/18, group B: 4/20). Hemoglobin level before hemostasis was 12.5 g/dL in group A which was not different to that in group B, 10.9 g/dL. CONCLUSION: Application of hemoclips was effective for bleeding MWT during endoscopic procedures, which warranted prophylactic application of hemoclips on MWT during endoscopic examination.

Endoscopic band ligation and endoscopic hemoclip placement for patients with Mallory-Weiss syndrome and active bleeding.

AIM: To compare the hemostatic efficacy and safety of two mechanical endoscopic methods: endoscopic band ligation (EBL) and endoscopic hemoclip placement (EHP) in patients with actively bleeding Mallory-Weiss syndrome (MWS). METHODS: A prospective randomized study to compare the efficacy and safety of EHP with EBL was performed from January 2002 to August 2005. Forty-one patients with active bleeding from MWS were treated with EHP (n = 21) or EBL (n = 20). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups with respect to clinical and endoscopic characteristics. The mean number of hemoclips applied was 3.2 +/- 1.5 and the mean number of bands applied was 1.2 +/- 0.4. Primary hemostasis was achieved in all patients. Recurrent bleeding was observed in one patient from the EHP group and two from the EBL group. Patients with recurrent bleeding were treated by the same modality as at randomization and secondary hemostasis was achieved in all. There were no significant differences between the two groups in total transfusion amount or duration of hospital stay. No complications or bleeding-related death resulted. CONCLUSION: EHP and EBL are equally effective and safe for the management of active bleeding in patients with Mallory-Weiss syndrome, even in those with shock or comorbid diseases.

[Clinical characteristics of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a tertiary referral center].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is still responsible for significant morbidity in spite of various therapeutic advances. The aims of this study were to evaluate the success rate in managing UGIB and predicting factors that affected clinical courses. METHODS: From August 2003 to April 2005, medical data (registered in a standard database categories) of 318 patients who underwent endoscopic examination to evaluate UGIB were analyzed. Early and final treatment success rates were evaluated on the next day and 14 days after the initial endoscopic procedures respectively (or the day of discharge). RESULTS: Main causes of UGIB were peptic ulcer (50.9%), varices (28.3%), Mallory-Weiss syndrome (10.3%). Endoscopic treatments were tried in 200 patients (63.0%). Number of patients who underwent operation and deaths were 4 (1.3%) and 13 (4.1%), respectively. Early and final success rates were 86.2% and 94.0%. Independent prognostic factors related with early success rates were volume of transfusion (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.72-0.89, p<0.001) and bleeding during the ventilator care (OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.01-0.31, p<0.001), whereas those factors related with final success rates were volume of transfusion (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.69-0.90, p<0.001), bleeding during the stay in intensive care unit (ICU) (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.13-0.49, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Early and final success rates of bleeding control were 86.2% and 94.0% in acute UGIB. Volume of transfusion, bleeding during ICU state or ventilator state were important predictive factors of the treatment failure.

[Mallory-Weiss syndrome after the use of biliary prosthesis]. / Zespól Mallory-Weiss po zastosowaniu protezy dróg zólciowych.

The Mallory-Weiss Syndrome is a rare complication of endoscopic examination. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to the Mallory-Weiss Syndrome usually stops spontaneously. The gastroscopy is an effective procedure (method) of diagnosis and treatment of the syndrome. Presented in this paper is a case of 49-year old woman with an upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to the Mallory-Weiss after biliary prosthesis removal. The choledocholithiasis was the primary reason for the initial insertion of prostheses. The cause of gastrointestinal bleeding was determined on the basis of performed gastroscopy in the early stage of prostheses removal forced by bleeding. The bleeding was effectively stopped with endoclips.

Malory-Weis syndrome based on own experience - diagnostics and modern principles of management.

UNLABELLED: Every gastrointestinal bleeding is an immediate threat to life, requiring close supervision in a hospital setting and making it mandatory to perform verification and endoscopic intervention. In some cases of a dynamic course, in order to make up deficiencies, it is necessary to use blood and blood products. One of the causes of bleeding located proximally to the ligament of Treitz is damage to the mucous membrane and deeper layers of the gastroesophageal junction, called Mallory-Weiss syndrome. The aim of the study was retrospective analysis of a selected group of patients with symptomatic upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the course of Mallory-Weiss syndrome, identification of typical characteristics of this disease entity in the studied population as well as demonstration of the effectiveness of endoscopic treatment using argon plasma coagulation (APC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis included 2120 gastroscopy results, with 111 (5.24%) examinations conducted due to symptomatic gastrointestinal bleeding. In the studied group, endoscopic diagnosis of Mallory-Weiss syndrome was made in 22 patients (1.04%). RESULTS: The studied disease entity was the cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in 19.82% of cases. Although this condition is usually characterised by a mild and self-limiting course, 59.09% of patients in the studied group required therapeutic endoscopic intervention due to active bleeding. In 54.55%, argon plasma coagulation was successfully used to control the source of bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Early gastroscopy, which remains both a diagnostic and therapeutic intervention, guarantees effective control of the clinical course of Mallory-Weiss syndrome. Endoscopic argon plasma coagulation is an effective way to treat bleeding, used in endoscopic monotherapy or in combination with other procedures.

Predictive factors of recurrent bleeding in Mallory-Weiss syndrome.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the majority of patients with Mallory-Weiss syndrome (MWS) have a benign course, MWS patients with recurrent bleeding have an unfavorable outcome and require intensive care. Therefore, this study was carried out to identify the risk factors for recurrent bleeding in MWS patients. METHODS: The medical records of patients with MWS between January 1999 and December 2003, were reviewed retrospectively. Demographics, initial clinical and laboratory parameters, and endoscopic findings of the patients with and without recurrent bleeding were compared and the potential risk factors predicting recurrent bleeding in MWS were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of one hundred and fifty-nine patients (22 women, 137 men, mean age 48.1 years old) were enrolled in the study. Recurrent bleeding was observed in 17 patients (10.7%). Those patients with recurrent bleeding showed higher frequency for the presence of shock at initial manifestation, combined liver cirrhosis and endoscopic findings of active bleeding, lower hemoglobin level and platelet count, higher amount of transfusions and epinephrine-mixed fluid injections, and longer hospital stay than those patients without recurrent bleeding. Significant risk factors predicting the recurrent bleeding in MWS were the presence of shock at initial manifestation (OR 3.71, 95% CI 1.07-14.90) and the evidence of active bleeding on endoscopic examination (OR 9.89, 95% CI 1.88-51.98) on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive care with close monitoring is required for the patients with shock on initial manifestation or with evidence of active bleeding on endoscopic examinations since these are independent risk factors predicting the recurrent bleeding in MWS patients.

[Endoscopy in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding]. / Endoscopia en hemorragia digestiva alta no variceal.

Non variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) still is a common cause of hospital admissions, morbidity and a significant mortality. A decrease trend has recently been documented thank to the general use of therapeutic endoscopy in spite of a greater use of non steroidal antinflamatory agents (NSAID) and a growing senile population. Most of NVUGIB are caused by peptic ulcer (PU) and usually stop spontaneously, but 15% of cases need endoscopic or surgical intervention. Clinically these patients can be identified by the presence of shock, orthostatic hypotension or associated organ failures (Rockall scale) and by endoscopic findings of active bleeding or non bleeding visible vessel (Forrest scale) both useful and complimentary. There are diverse endoscopic techniques to halt NVUGIB, with transendoscopic saline injection with or w/o epinephrine + coaptive bipolar electrocoagulation or heater probe being the gold standard with 85 to 90% initial success, and furthermore stopping recurrences in similar figures. Under these circumstances new methods as argon plasma electrocoagulation or mechanic methods such as endoclips or banding have difficulty to demonstrate their usefulness when compared to established procedures, but still may have some indications such as diffuse gastric or vascular lesions for argon plasma electrocoagulation, and bands or endoclips for deep ulcers given their lower risk of perforation. Antisecretory agents are useful complementary treatment decreasing recurrence by 8% when used at high doses. Hp eradication decreases PU and NVUGIB recurrence, except in patients who ingest NSAID on a regular basis who require nocturnal antisecretory treatment.

The spectrum of the Mallory-Weiss tear.

A Mallory-Weiss tear is a mucosal laceration occurrring at or near the esophagogastric junction and is most often associated with vomiting. This is a common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding; in our series, 14% of patients presenting to the hospital because of upper gastrointestinal bleeding had Mallory-Weiss tears. Massive hemorrhage is not characteristic and 37% of the patients required no blood transufsions. A classical history of nonbloody emesis followed by hematemesis was found in only 29% of patients. The most common story was the appearance of blood with the first vomiting. In 35% of our patients with Mallory-Weiss tear, an additional potential bleeding site was identified, and, in approximately half of these patients, it was actually bleeding. Most Mallory-Weiss tears stop bleeding spontaneously and supportive treatment is all that is required. If bleeding continues, infusion of vasoactive substances into the celiac artery or into the left gastric artery often obviates the need for operation.

Mallory-Weiss syndrome: analysis of fifty-nine cases.

Fifty-nine patients with Mallory-Weiss gastroesophageal lacerations are described. These patients consisted of 6% of all cases of upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage we evaluated. The most common symptoms were hematemesis (92%) and retching (61%). A history of chronic alcoholism was present in 69.5%, and recent binge drinking in 52.5% of our patients. Diagnosis was made endoscopically (55 patients) or surgically (four patients). Two deaths occurred in the 51 patients who were managed nonoperatively and two deaths occurred in the eight patients who underwent surgery. None of the deaths was related to delay in operative treatment. Eleven patients had late rebleeding, but in only three of these patients was this due to recurrent Mallory-Weiss lesions. We believe the Mallory-Weiss laceration can now be considered to be a relatively benign condition that can be managed successfully by nonoperative means in the majority of cases.

Mallory-Weiss syndrome. Review of 69 cases.

The records of patients treated for upper gastrointestinal bleeding from 1974 through 1978 were reviewed. Five percent of this group (69 patients) had bleeding due to the Mallory-Weiss syndrome. Only 36 percent of patients had a correct admitting diagnosis. Esophagogastroscopy proved the most reliable diagnostic tool, with 94 percent of 63 patients studied having the diagnosis of Mallory-Weiss laceration confirmed. Initial management was medical in all patients. Twenty-one patients (30 percent) required operative intervention. There was a good correlation between the transfusion requirement and the need for operation. There were two deaths in this series; both were considered preventable. The Mallory-Weiss syndrome is common. Esophagogastroscopy performed early can result in a diagnostic accuracy rate of greater than 90 percent. Aggressive nonsurgical therapy after early diagnosis should continue to reduce the role of operation in the treatment of this condition. However, if bleeding continues after initial medical management, or if bleeding continues after 1,500 ml of blood is required, then surgical therapy should be instituted without delay.

Endoscopic hemostasis of nonvariceal, non-peptic ulcer hemorrhage.

The majority of patients who present with acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage are found to be bleeding from acid peptic disease including ulcer, esophagitis and gastritis, and variceal disease. Mallory-Weiss tear, Dieulafoy's lesion, cancer, and other rare lesions account for the bleeding source in the remaining patients. Endoscopic hemostasis may be effective in many of the conditions, but only Mallory-Weiss tear and Dieulafoy's lesion are encountered frequently enough to be clinically significant.