Upper GI bleed Flashcards
Causes of upper GI bleed (oesophageal)
Oesophageal causes of upper GI bleed
- varies
- oesophagitis
- cancer
- Mallory-Weiss tear
Causes of gastric bleeding
- gastric Ca
- diffuse erosive gastritis
- Dieulafoy lesion
- gastric ulcer
What is the most common cause of major upper GI hemorrhage?
Posteriorly sided duodenal ulcer
What should patients with suspected varices receive propr to the endoscopy
Terlipressin - it is a vasopressin analogue -> vasoconstriction caused
Management of upper GI bleed
- early control of airway + resuscitation if needed
- investigate: bloods, upper GI endoscopy within 24 hours
- further Rx depends on the cause of hemorrhage
-
Treatment of oesophageal varices causing upper GI bleed
- banding
- sclerotherapy
If these do not work:
Sengaksten- Blakemore tube (or Minnesota tube)
Treatment of patients with erosive oesophagitis / gastritis
Erosive oesophagitis/ gastritis Rx
- proton pump inhibitor
- identifiable bleeding points -> combination therapy of injection of adrenaline and either a thermal or mechanical treatment.
- all patients who have received intervention should receive a continuous infusion of a proton pump inhibitor (IV omeprazole for 72 hours) to reduce the re-bleeding rate.
* Patients with diffuse erosive gastritis who cannot be managed endoscopically and continue to bleed may require gastrectomy
Which vessel is usually involved in the bleeding in duodenal ulcer
Gastro-duodenal a.
which vessel is usually involved in the bleeding from the gastric ulcer
left gastric artery
What score is used to predict the severity of upper GI bleed? (if admission and endoscopy is needed)
Blatchford score
What are the components of Blatchford score assessment?
Patient’s: Hb, serum urea, pulse rate and BP
What indicates low and what indicates a high risk on Blatchford score?
- patients with a score of 0 are low risk
- all others are considered high risk and require admission and endoscopy
What to calculate following the endoscopy? Why?
Rockall score - to determine the patient’s risk of rebleeding and mortality
* A score of 3 or less is associated with a rebleeding rate of 4% and a very low risk of mortality and identifies a group of patients suitable for early discharge
Rx for Mallory Weiss tear
- Mallory Weiss tears will typically resolve spontaneously
Surgical treatment for duodenal ulcer
Duodenal ulcer - surgery
- Laparotomy, duodenotomy and under running of the ulcer
*duodenotomy - excision of parts or all of the duodenum
Treatment (surgical) for bleeding gastric ulcer
- Under-running of the bleeding site - suture ligation /podwiazanie/ of the bleeding vessel
- Partial gastrectomy-antral ulcer
- Partial gastrectomy or under running the ulcer- lesser curve ulcer (involving left gastric artery)
- Total gastrectomy if bleeding persists
What does Haematochezia mean?
Haematochezia
/hematoczesja/
Passing fresh blood - blood does not have time to be altered
*passed usually PR
What two groups of meds are associated with upper GI bleed
Drugs to be asked about while taking a history from a patient with an upper GI bleed
A. Mucosal damage (e.g. NSAIDs)
B. Impaired hemostasis(e.g. Warfarin)
Drugs that may cause mucosal damage (contributing to an upper GI bleed)
Mucosal damage:
- NSAIDs
- COX 2 inhibitors
- Prednisolone
*all steroids, all anti-inflammatory (e.g. Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac)