Pathology -- Gastrointestinal Bleeding Flashcards
Give 4 types of GI bleeding in decreasing order of incidence
- UGI bleeding (60.6/100,000)
- LGI bleeding (35.7/100,000)
- Peptic ulcer bleeding (32.1/100,000)
- Colonic diverticular bleeding (23.9/100,000)
Case fatality for UGI and LGI bleeding
- UGI = 2.45%
- LGI = 1.47%
Case fatality of patients > 75 years with bleeding
3.54%
Flowchart to categorize GI bleeding
4 upper GI presenting symptoms
- Hematemesis (vomiting of blood or coffe-ground material)
- Melena (black, tarry stool)
- +/- hypovolemic shock
- Hematochezia (passage of red blood or clots per rectum) – 15 - 20% of patients
3 of the most common causes of severe UGI bleeding
- Gastric or duodenal ulcer (38%)
- Gastric or esophageal varices (16%)
- Erosive esophagitis (13%)
4 ways to diagnose UGI bleeding
- Medical history
- Vital signs and physical exam
- Lab testing
- Blood urea nitrogen level increases to a greater extent than creatinine level
6 findings in medical history that may point to UGI
- ASA
- NSAIDs
- Liver disease
- Vomiting
- NG tube
- GERD
4 lab tests for UGI bleeding
- CBC (hemoglobin, platelets)
- Chemistry study
- Liver study
- Coagulation study
4 parts of the initial management of UGI bleeding
- ABCs (IV, intubation, INR correction)
- Type and Cross-Match
- Fluid resuscitation
- Crystalloid
- Blood
- Risk stratification
- Clinical (Blatchfod, Rockall, AIMS65 scores)
- Endoscopic
When should patients undergo endoscopic evaluation in the event of UGI bleeding
Within 12 - 24 hours
Describe the usefulness of endoscopy with UGI bleeding
Identification of the site of bleeding with:
- 92% sensitivity
- ~100% specificity
Provides hemostasis if needed
2 drugs to administer just prior to endoscopy of UGIB
- IV prokinetic agent in some (Erythromycin, 250 mg 30 - 60 min prior)
- Proton pump inhibitor therapy
What is the benefit of administering an IV prokinetic agent pre-endoscopy for UGIB patients?
Improve visualization
Benefit of administering pre-endoscopic proton pump inhibitor therapy for UGIB
Has not shown to alter clinical outcomes, but may downstage the severity of the lesion and decrease the need for endoscopic intervention
Goal of endoscopic therapy for UGIB
Stop acute bleeding and reduce the risk of recurrent bleeding
4 available treatments in endoscopic therapy
- Injection
- Thermal coagulation
- Mechanical compression (clips)
- Hemostatic powders
For which kind of lesions is endoscopic therapy reserved?
Lesions that have high-risk stigmata
3 alternative management strategies for refractory UGIB
- Radiological percutaneous procedures (embolization, shunts)
- Surgery
- In rare cases, if malignancy, radiation therapy
Medical therpay for non variceal UGIB: why do it?
Adjunct to endoscopic hemostasis in patients with high risk endoscopic stigmata
Effect of proton pump inhibitors for non variceal UGIB
Profound acid suppression that may promote platelet aggregation and clot formation –> reduce re-bleeding and surgery rates
In patients with high-risk stigmata post endoscopic therapy, high-dose IV PPI x72 hours reduces mortality
How is variceal UGIB treated?
Combination of pharmacotherapy, endoscopy, radialogical therapy and (temporarily) balloon tamponade or esophageal stenting
2 pharmacotherapy drugs for variceal UGIB
- Octreotide
- Somatostatin
2 endoscopy treatments for variceal UGIB
- Band ligation
- Sclerotherapy
Radiological therapy for variceal UGIB
Prosthetic shunting