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Late outcome of bleeding gastric ulcer. Five to eight years' follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Gastric ulcer haemorrhage is associated with a high immediate mortality, but few data exist on the late prognosis of these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term recurrence rate and late outcome in patients with gastric ulcer complicated with bleeding. METHODS: In a prospective follow-up study 90 consecutive patients with a bleeding gastric ulcer discharged after non-operative treatment (bleeding controlled by endoscopic electrocoagulation or ceased spontaneously) were followed up once every year for 5-8 years (median, 6.5 years). RESULTS: Recurrent ulcer was seen in 17 patients, repeat haemorrhage being the presenting symptom in 13 of them. The estimated cumulative recurrence rate after 2, 5, and 8 years was 10%, 19% and 33%, respectively. Recurrence rate was unaffected by sex, complicating disease, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ingestion before and after the index bleeding episode. The recurrence rate of patients with a history of ulcer before the index bleeding episode did not differ from that of patients with no previous ulcer history. A significantly increased risk of recurrence was seen in patients with previous bleed as opposed to patients with previous non-bleeding ulcer (p < 0.05). The cumulative survival rate was significantly reduced compared with the expected survival rate of the sex- and age-matched background population (p < 0.01), primarily because of diseases not related to the ulcer disease. CONCLUSION: Bleeding gastric ulcer is associated with a relatively low long-term recurrence rate, except in a few patients with a history of previous bleeding ulcer, who have an increased risk of recurrence. Patients with bleeding gastric ulcer have an excess mortality not related to the ulcer disease.

Aged↗

The vital threat of an upper gastrointestinal bleeding: Risk factor analysis of 121 consecutive patients.

AIM: To analyze the importance in predicting patients risk of mortality due to upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding under today's therapeutic regimen. METHODS: From 1998 to 2001, 121 patients with the diagnosis of UGI bleeding were treated in our hospital. Based on the patients' data, a retrospective multivariate data analysis with initially more than 270 single factors was performed. Subsequently, the following potential risk factors underwent a logistic regression analysis: age, gender, initial hemoglobin, coumarines, liver cirrhosis, prothrombin time (PT), gastric ulcer (small curvature), duodenal ulcer (bulbus back wall), Forrest classification, vascular stump, variceal bleeding, Mallory-Weiss syndrome, RBC substitution, recurrent bleeding, conservative and surgical therapy. RESULTS: Seventy male (58%) and 51 female (42%) patients with a median age of 70 (range: 21-96) years were treated. Their in-hospital mortality was 14%. While 12% (11/91) of the patients died after conservative therapy, 20% (6/30) died after undergoing surgical therapy. UGI bleeding occurred due to duodenal ulcer (n = 36; 30%), gastric ulcer (n = 35; 29%), esophageal varicosis (n = 12; 10%), Mallory-Weiss syndrome (n = 8; 7%), erosive lesions of the mucosa (n = 20; 17%), cancer (n = 5; 4%), coagulopathy (n = 4; 3%), lymphoma (n = 2; 2%), benign tumor (n = 2; 2%) and unknown reason (n = 1; 1%). A logistic regression analysis of all aforementioned factors revealed that liver cirrhosis and duodenal ulcer (bulbus back wall) were associated risk factors for a fatal course after UGI bleeding. Prior to endoscopy, only liver cirrhosis was an assessable risk factor. Thereafter, liver cirrhosis, the location of a bleeding ulcer (bulbus back wall) and patients' gender (male) were of prognostic importance for the clinical outcome (mortality) of patients with a bleeding ulcer. CONCLUSION: Most prognostic parameters used in clinical routine today are not reliable enough in predicting a patient's vital threat posed by an UGI bleeding. Liver cirrhosis, on the other hand, is significantly more frequently associated with an increased risk to die after bleeding of an ulcer located at the posterior duodenal wall.

Adult↗

Evaluation of the woman with postmenopausal bleeding: Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound-Sponsored Consensus Conference statement.

OBJECTIVES: A panel of 14 physicians practicing medicine in the United States with expertise in radiology, obstetrics and gynecology, gynecologic oncology, hysteroscopy, epidemiology, and pathology was convened by the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound to discuss the role of sonography in women with postmenopausal bleeding. Broad objectives of this conference were (1) to advance understanding of the utility of different diagnostic techniques for evaluating the endometrium in women with postmenopausal bleeding; (2) to formulate useful and practical guidelines for evaluation of women with postmenopausal bleeding, specifically as it relates to the use of sonography; and (3) to offer suggestions for future research projects. SETTING: October 24 and 25, 2000, Washington, DC, preceding the annual Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Advances in Sonography conference. PROCEDURE: Specific questions to the panel included the following: (1) What are the relative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of using transvaginal sonography versus office (nondirected) endometrial biopsy as the initial examination for a woman with postmenopausal bleeding? (2) What are the sonographic standards for evaluating a woman with postmenopausal bleeding? (3) What are the abnormal sonographic findings in a woman with postmenopausal bleeding? (4) When should saline infusion sonohysterography or hysteroscopy be used in the evaluation of postmenopausal bleeding? (5) Should the diagnostic approach be modified for patients taking hormone replacement medications, tamoxifen, or other selective estrogen receptor modulators? CONCLUSIONS: Consensus recommendations were used to create an algorithm for evaluating women with postmenopausal bleeding. All panelists agreed that because postmenopausal bleeding is the most common presenting symptom of endometrial cancer, when postmenopausal bleeding occurs, clinical evaluation is indicated. The panelists also agreed that either transvaginal sonography or endometrial biopsy could be used safely and effectively as the first diagnostic step. Whether sonography or endometrial biopsy is used initially depends on the physician's assessment of patient risk, the nature of the physician's practice, the availability of high-quality sonography, and patient preference. Similar sensitivities for detecting endometrial carcinoma are reported for transvaginal sonography when an endometrial thickness of greater than 5 mm is considered abnormal and for endometrial biopsy when "sufficient" tissue is obtained. Currently, with respect to mortality, morbidity, and quality-of-life end points, there are insufficient data to comment as to which approach is more effective. The conference concluded by identifying several important unanswered questions and suggestions that could be addressed by future research projects.

Algorithms↗

Risk of gastrointestinal bleeding during adolescence and early adulthood in children with portal vein obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of bleeding during adolescence and early adulthood in a group of children with portal vein obstruction who had not undergone an effective treatment beforehand. STUDY DESIGN: Children (n = 44) were followed up from age 12 years to a mean age of 20 years (range, 15-34 years). Actuarial risk of bleeding, related to previous occurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding and to pattern of varices at age 12, was calculated yearly. RESULTS: Twenty-four children presented with gastrointestinal bleeding after age 12, and 20 did not bleed. The overall actuarial probability of bleeding was 49% at age 16 and 76% at age 24. Probability of bleeding at age 23 was higher in children who had bled before age 12 than in children who had not bled (93% vs 56%; P =.007). Probabilities of bleeding at age 18 and at age 23 were 60% and 85%, respectively, in patients who had grade II or III esophageal varices at age 12. The 9 children without varices or with grade I varices only on endoscopy did not bleed between the ages of 12 and 20 years. CONCLUSIONS: Children with portal vein obstruction have a >50% risk of bleeding during adolescence; the pattern of varices on endoscopy at age 12 may have a prognostic value.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Enteroscopy as a tool for diagnosing gastrointestinal bleeding requiring blood transfusion.

Iron-deficiency anemia secondary to gastrointestinal blood loss is a common cause of hospitalization. In many cases, the bleeding site cannot be defined despite thorough routine examination of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate push enteroscopy as a diagnostic tool in patients with severe anemia, secondary to recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, that required management by transfusion. Thirty-five consecutive push enteroscopy investigations were performed in 1998 and 1999 on 25 patients (15 men, 10 women). Mean age was 57 +/- 16 years (range, 33-83). All patients had received blood transfusions because of pronounced anemia secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding. Before push enteroscopy, all patients had been investigated with esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and small-bowel radiography using the double contrast technique; no bleeding site was found. In addition, 10 of 25 patients had been investigated beforehand with 99mTc-labelled red blood cell scintigraphy, and 5 of 25 with scintigraphy for Meckel diverticulum. Two patients were also investigated with angiography before the push enteroscopy, and in six patients an additional total intraoperative enteroscopy was performed, preceded by a new colonoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and push enteroscopy. A bleeding site was disclosed in 15 of 25 (60%) patients. In 7 of 25 patients (28%) the bleeding site was found in the stomach or esophagus. even though the patients had undergone one or two esophagogastroduodenoscopies earlier with normal findings. Total intraoperative enteroscopy identified a bleeding site in four of six (67%) patients studied. Two patients had bleeding hemangiomas that were resected surgically. Two patients had small intestinal adenomas, one with adenocarcinoma in situ. Push enteroscopy performed with an overtube inserted under fluoroscopic guidance is an important diagnostic tool in patients in whom conventional examinations do not disclose bleeding sites. Interestingly, 28% of patients had bleeding within reach of the gastroscope, indicating that a new upper endoscopy should be recommended before push enteroscopy is performed. When no positive findings are seen on push enteroscopy and the patient is affected by severe, recurrent iron-deficiency anemia, total intraoperative enteroscopy should be considered.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Endoscopic hemoclip treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic hemostasis of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a widely accepted modality of treatment, and endoscopic hemoclipping has been reported to cause fewer complications. METHODS: Forty patients with gastrointestinal bleeding (active bleeding or non-bleeding visible vessel), 30 men and 10 women with a mean age of 59.1 +/- 14.4 (28-86) years were treated with endoscopic hemoclipping. After panendoscopy or colonoscopy, a local epinephrine injection was routinely given in the initial 20 cases, followed by hemoclipping. For the latter 20 cases, local epinephrine was given only to those with active bleeding. If there was adherent blood clot, irrigation with 3% H2O2, and removal of the blood clot with forceps or basket were done. Six cases with bleeding at technically difficult locations were managed with a new method; a transparent cap (Olympus EMRC) fitted with a 2-channel endoscope for hemoclipping. RESULTS: There were 35 patients with peptic ulcer, 2 with post endoscopic papillotomy bleeding, 1 with duodenal Dieulafoy's lesion, 1 with Mallory Weiss syndrome, and 1 with rectal ulcer. The types of bleeding were spurting in 7, oozing in 12, and non-bleeding visible vessel in 21 cases. The average number of clips used was 3.1 +/- 1.7 (1-9) and the average clip loss was 0.6 +/- 0.9 (0-4) per patient. The success rate for hemostasis using the transparent cap-fitted endoscope was 100% and the overall success rate was 85% with no complications related to the procedure. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic hemoclip treatment for GI bleeding is safe and effective. The transparent cap-fitted endoscope is a new method for hemoclipping in technically difficult lesions.

Adult↗

Results of the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding from gastroesophageal varices.

INTRODUCTION: The management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by rupture of gastric and/or esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis must focus on the initial control of the haemorrhage avoiding further worsening of an already poor liver function and the prevention of early relapsing bleeding. Therapeutic options include endoscopic, pharmacological and surgical methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study of the results obtained after the follow-up of 90 bleeding episodes in a total of 54 patients, 35 men and 19 women, with a mean age of 58 years (range 32-77), to which a therapeutic protocol for acute bleeding secondary to portal hypertension was applied over a 22-months period. Patient classification according to Child-Pugh upon admission was 57% Child A, 34% Child B and 9% Child C. RESULTS: Mean hospital length of stay was 9 days (2-50). Of the 90 bleeding episodes, 15 were early relapsing bleeding episodes (16.7%). Twelve patients died (mortality rate of 22.2% by patients and 13.4% by bleeding episodes). Twelve emergency surgical procedures were performed because of the persistence of haemorrhage. Forty one per cent of patients were readmitted because of relapsing bleeding at least once during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to gastroesophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis requires a combined therapy in order to attain maximum effectiveness in acute haemorrhagic episodes and to address all potential later consequences. Such therapy should be provided in a hospital fully equipped and with specialists in this pathology. Based on our experience, emergency surgery as rescue treatment for persistent or short-term relapsing bleeding should be restricted to patients with good hepatic function because of its high morbidity and mortality.

Adult↗

[Endoscopic treatment of upper gastrointestinal non-variceal bleeding].

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic hemostasis is the method of choice for the treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers. This retrospective study was carried out to evaluate its effectiveness in routine endoscopic practice. METHODS: The records of all patients with gastrointestinal bleeding undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) at the Endoscopy Center of Ferrara in the last year were retrospectively evaluated. For each patient with peptic lesions, the following data were recorded: demographic characteristics, use of NSAIDs, co-morbidity, hemodynamic conditions, blood transfusions before EGDS, time between onset of symptoms and EGDS, endoscopic findings, method of endoscopic haemostasis carried out, Rockall score and outcome. If re-bleeding occurred, the data concerning the second therapeutic intervention were recorded as well. RESULTS: Seventy-six males and 45 females (age 34-92 years) entered the study. In 22% of cases no co-morbidity was present. Active bleeding was observed in 38% of cases, features consistent with recent bleeding in 54% of cases, and no sign of bleeding in 6.6% of cases. Peptic ulcer was observed in 89% of cases. Hemostasis was carried out in 81 patients (76 had adrenalin infiltration, 2 had argon plasma coagulator [APC], and 3 had both treatments); 26 patients had re-bleeding. The probability of re-bleeding was related to female gender (p<0.05; OR: 3.74), time between onset of symptoms and EGDS >24 hours (p<0.01; OR: 8.67), and presence of non-ulcer peptic pathology (p<0.05; OR: 0.15). Seven re-bleeding patients underwent surgery, 19 had endoscopic treatment. In 11 of these patients second hemostasis was resolutive, 8 bled again. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic hemostasis of bleeding peptic lesions is effective also in routine clinical practice. Adrenalin infiltration is safe, easy to perform, cheap and repeatable, and in our opinion it should be considered the technique of first choice in endoscopic hemostasis.

Adult↗

[Occurrence of bleeding in women using combined hormonal contraceptives (ethinylestradiol 35 micrograms/norgestimate 250 micrograms in relation to regularity of administration and cycle start day].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of irregular intermenstrual bleeding in combined oral contraceptive (ethinylestradiol 35 micrograms/norgestimate 250 micrograms, COC) users and the influence of regularity of pill use on this frequency; to assess the occurrence of withdrawal bleeding during weekends in women using the COC from the first Sunday in the cycle (Sunday start method). DESIGN: Prospective, open, non-comparative, multicenter study in 27 centers. METHODS: The first day of the pill use, occurrence of intermenstrual and withdrawal bleeding and regularity of use were assessed by means of patient's bleeding diary. Body weight, blood pressure and side effects were monitored before the oral contraceptive use and after the third cycle. RESULTS: 358 (94%) of 382 women completed the study. Frequency of intermenstrual bleeding was generally low (6.7%, 5.0% and 5.0% in the first, second and third cycle) and highly influenced by regularity of pill use (2.6%, 0% a 1% in regular users versus 30.2%, 32.1% a 24.2% in irregular users). 28%, 40% and 47% of Sunday start users achieved bleeding-free weekends after the first, second and third cycle. Body weight and blood pressure did not change during the study. CONCLUSION: Frequency of intermenstrual (breakthrough) bleeding during the first three months of COC use is highly influenced by regularity of use. In regular users of monophasic COC containing ethinylestradiol 35 micrograms/norgestimate 250 micrograms the frequency of intermenstrual bleeding is bellow 2.6%. In Sunday start users the proportion of women with bleeding-free weekends (i.e. weekends without the occurrence of withdrawal bleeding) increases to 47% after the third cycle.

Adolescent↗

A new view of occult and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Occult gastrointestinal bleeding usually is discovered when fecal occult blood test results are positive or iron deficiency anemia is detected. Fecal occult blood testing methods vary, but all have limited sensitivity and specificity. The initial work-up for occult bleeding typically involves colonoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or both. In patients without symptoms indicating an upper gastrointestinal tract source or in patients older than 50 years, colonoscopy usually is performed first. About one half of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding do not have an obvious source of the bleeding. In those patients, small bowel imaging or repeat panendoscopy may be performed. Barium studies of the small bowel are widely available but have limited diagnostic utility. Mucosal lesions such as vascular ectasias, a common cause of obscure bleeding, may be missed by small bowel studies. Small bowel endoscopy is difficult to perform but has a higher diagnostic yield. Capsule endoscopy is a newer technique that allows noninvasive small bowel imaging. Radionuclide red blood cell scans or angiography may be useful in patients with active bleeding. Treatment of bleeding most often involves endoscopic ablation of the bleeding site with thermal energy, if the site is accessible. Angiographic embolization may be used to treat lesions that cannot be reached endoscopically. Diffuse vascular lesions, which are not uncommon, are difficult to treat. Medical treatment, usually with combined hormone therapy, has limited utility. Surgical treatment of obscure bleeding often fails or is not feasible because of multiple bleeding sites.

Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal↗

Hemoclip treatment for post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of bleeding after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) ranges from 2%-12.1%. Endoscopic treatments include injection and thermal therapy, which can have recurrent bleeding and potential complications of chemical and thermal injuries. There is only 1 case report of post-EST bleeding managed by hemoclipping in the literature. Treatment of post-EST bleeding with hemoclip is reported in this study. METHODS: From March 1999 to May 2003, a retrospective analysis of 162 cases of EST was made. Nine cases (5.5%) of post EST bleeding, 7 male and 2 female patients, with a mean age of 58 +/- 16 (37-82) years, were treated with hemoclipping. Four cases of recurrent bleeding were treated with secondary clipping when previous local epinephrine injection was ineffective, and the remaining 5 cases were managed with primary hemoclipping. RESULTS: Six cases were of major bleeding; 3 needed blood transfusion (mean: 7.3 units: 6-8 units) and 3 had a reduction of hemoglobin > 2 g/dL but without blood transfusion. The location of bleeder was 5 on the left side, 2 on the right side and 1 in both flaps of post-EST papilla. The median clips used were 2 (1-7), and the median missed clips were 0.5 (0-3). The success rate hemostasis was 88.8%, including 4 recurrent major bleeding after previous local epinephrine injection. Some technical difficulties were encountered. The failed case that underwent operation was due to total inability to get a visual field because of massive bleeding. There were no complications related to hemoclipping. CONCLUSIONS: Hemoclipping can be an alternative method for hemostasis in post-EST bleeding.

Adult↗

[Surgical treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding].

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding is slowly decreasing in the past decades, but they represent still a major problem in the treatment of emergency cases. Bigger part of the bleedings originates from the upper gastrointestinal tract (above Treitz ligament), The most common cause of these bleeding is peptic ulcer. The most frequent cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding is the diverticular disease of the large bowel. AIM: With the summary of the causes, the diagnostic procedures and the treatment possibilities of bleedings the authors should like to help the recovery of these patients. MATERIAL AND DISCUSSION: The most important thing is the proper diagnosis as soon as it is possible. The most acceptable method for this is the endoscopy, during which some kind of treatment procedure is often possible. This method can achieve final or transient stopping of bleeding. With additional medical treatment the urgent operation is often avoidable. In case of continuous or rebleeding operative treatment is mandatory. This kind of treatment is required mainly in case of peptic ulcer bleeding in the upper, and diverticular bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract. If operative treatment is chosen, the best result can be expected from an aggressive resection type solution. CONCLUSION: In case of gastrointestinal bleeding the establishment of the correct diagnosis is essential. With a careful endoscopic and medical treatment the urgent operation is often avoidable. So it would be indicated to treat patients in case of gastrointestinal bleeding in a Gastroenterology subintensive unit.

Acute Disease↗

The etiology and clinical characteristics of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding in patients hospitalized for comorbid illnesses.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine whether there are different causes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding and different clinical courses in patients (a) with comorbid illnesses vs. (b) patients with only severe hematochezia. METHODOLOGY: From January 2001 to December 2003, 107 hospitalized patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding were evaluated by urgent colonoscopy. Our analyses compared the etiology and clinical characteristics of bleeding in patients with (group A) and without (group B) one or more comorbid illnesses. RESULTS: Group A patients tended to have longer hospital stays, more severe anemic conditions, and more transfusion requirements. The overall mortality rate was 29.5% in group A and 4.3% in group B (p < 0.05). Bleeding-related mortality was not significantly different between groups. Colitis, rectal ulcer, and angiodysplasia were the leading causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in group A. Rectal ulcer was a more common cause of bleeding in group A (16.4%) than in group B (2.1%) (p < 0.05), and it resulted in longer hospital stays and more severe anemia and leukocytosis compared to patients with other causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding that starts after hospitalization for other comorbid illnesses have distinctive etiologies and clinical characteristics compared with ordinary patients admitted to the hospital with only bleeding. Rectal ulcer is an important but obscure cause of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding in elderly patients with significant comorbid diseases.

Acute Disease↗

[Evaluation of diagnostic yield and clinical impact of capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding].

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The major indication of small bowel capsule endoscopy is the diagnostics of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. The present retrospective study was aimed to analyze the diagnostic yield, positive and negative predictive values and clinical impact of capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 36 month period at two workplaces 66 capsule endoscopy studies were performed in 62 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding who had undergone non-diagnostic upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. Capsule video recordings were evaluated by two investigators at both workplaces. Capsule endoscopy findings were divided into 3 groups according to the bleeding source: definitive bleeding source (48 patients), uncertain bleeding potential (5 patients), and negative finding (8 patient). Patients after capsule endoscopy were followed-up until a mean of 20 (1-41) months. RESULTS: A definitive small bowel bleeding source was detected in 78.7% of the cases studied by capsule endoscopy. Definitive bleeding sources included angiodysplasia (28 cases), small bowel Crohn's disease (5 cases), small bowel tumor (5 cases), small bowel stenosis (2 cases), NSAID therapy related ulcer (1 case), non-specific inflammation (1 case) and helminthiasis (1 case) respectively. The positive and negative predictive values of capsule endoscopy studies were 95.8% and 84.6% respectively. In cases with definitive bleeding sources 72% of patients received therapy in accordance with capsule endoscopy findings (surgery in 18 patients, medical treatment modification in 16 patients, chemoembolisation in 1 patient). During the follow-up period 17.7% of the patients had rebleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Capsule endoscopy is a useful and effective diagnostic method in cases with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Effective therapy may be introduced in accordance with the majority of positive capsule endoscopy results.

Angiodysplasia↗

[A survey of advanced schistosomiasis patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding].

Among 4,950 advanced schistosomiasis patients examined, 709 (14.3%) had upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and in patients who had been treated with splenectomy, 532 presented history of bleeding. Of the 338 cases with a history of bleeding, 268 (79.3%) ceased bleeding after operation and 70 cases (20.7%) bled again. In 194 cases (7%) who had no history of bleeding before operation, bleeding occurred, suggesting that simple splenectomy has certain effect in preventing upper gastrointestinal bleeding, but the incidence of bleeding is higher in those who had a history of bleeding before operation. Gastrofibroscopic examinations in 50 cases who bled recently indicated that 74% of the patients had gastro-duodenal lesion as a concomitant disease. Prevention and treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding of advanced schistosomiasis patients are discussed.

Duodenum↗

[Clinical value of gastrointestinal bleeding scintigraphy in vivo using 99mTc-labeled erythrocytes].

99mTc labeled red blood cell imaging was performed in 13 patients with clinical evidence of gastrointestinal bleeding from an unknown source. In all these patients the bleeding sites had remained unclear after the standard diagnostic evaluation, including upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (13 patients), colonoscopy (12 patients) and angiography (4 patients). Nine of 13 patients (70%) had a scan indicating active bleeding. In the 10 patients in whom the bleeding site was definitely identified by endoscopy, arteriography, or surgery, scintigraphy correctly localized the bleeding site in 6 (60%). One false positive localization was noted. Bleeding was detected in 7 of 9 patients with melena and in 2 of 4 patients with occult bleeding and chronic anemia. In all but 1 patient, additional diagnostic investigations were needed to finally establish the bleeding site. In patients in whom a potential bleeding site has been identified by standard diagnostic tests, 99mTc red blood cell imaging may provide a reliable noninvasive test by which to document active bleeding from the suspected source.

Adult↗

[Non-surgical treatment of bleeding gastric ulcer. A follow-up after 5-8 years].

UNLABELLED: Gastric ulcer haemorrhage is associated with a high immediate mortality, but few data exist on the late prognosis of these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term recurrence rate and late outcome in patients with gastric ulcer complicated by bleeding. In a prospective follow-up study 90 consecutive patients with a bleeding gastric ulcer discharged after non-operative treatment (bleeding controlled by endoscopic electrocoagulation or ceased spontaneously) were followed up once every year for five to eight years (median 6.5 years). Recurrent ulcer was seen in 17 patients, repeat haemorrhage being the presenting symptom in 13. The estimated cumulative recurrence rate after two, five and eight years was 10%, 19% and 33%, respectively. Recurrence rate was unaffected by sex, complicating disease, and NSAID ingestion before and after the index bleeding episode. The recurrence rate of patients with a history of ulcer before the index bleeding episode did not differ from that of patients with no previous ulcer history. A significantly increased risk of recurrence was seen in patients with previous bleed as opposed to patients with previous non-bleeding ulcer (p < 0.05). The cumulative survival rate was significantly reduced compared to the expected survival rate of the sex- and age-matched background population (p < 0.01), primarily due to diseases not related to the ulcer disease. CONCLUSION: Bleeding gastric ulcer is associated with a relatively low long-term recurrence rate, except in a few patients with a history of previous bleeding ulcer, who have an increased risk of recurrence. Patients with bleeding gastric ulcer have an excess mortality not related to the ulcer disease.

Adult↗

Total abdominal colectomy for control of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

From 1957-1990 four patients underwent total abdominal colectomy with primary ileoproctostomy for control of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage at Field Memorial Community Hospital in the rural community of Centreville, Mississippi. Surgery was performed emergently in two cases, and urgent/electively in the two remaining cases. Bleeding was controlled in each case. Upper Gastrointestinal and rectal bleeding were excluded, but further attempts to localize bleeding were not performed due to the difficulty of obtaining these studies at our hospital and the questionable likelihood of localizing the bleeding site. Many authors recommend an aggressive diagnostic workup including radio-labeled RBC scintigraphy and mesenteric angiography to localize colonic bleeding. Their aim is to perform a directed colonic resection for control of bleeding. However, most authors support total abdominal colectomy in cases where 1) hemodynamic instability does not allow extensive preoperative evaluation 2) there is a recurrent bleeding 3) more than one site is visualized as bleeding 4) there is widespread diverticulosis in a good-risk patient or 5) diagnostic procedures are unavailable. The low morbidity and good bowel function achieved following total abdominal colectomy, combined with the unavailability of diagnostic radiographic studies leads us to recommend total abdominal colectomy for control of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The mortality of the procedure can be minimized by operating in a timely manner, prior to 10 units transfusion or 4 units within 24 hours, or operating in cases of recurrent bleeding.

Aged↗