Treatment of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. 2005

Kirill Rivkin, and Aleksandr Lyakhovetskiy
Lincoln Medical and Mental Center, Bronx, NY 10451, USA. kirfa@hotmail.com

OBJECTIVE The etiology, pathophysiology, prognostic factors, pharmacologic treatment, and pharmacoeconomic considerations of nonvariceal upper-gastrointestinal-tract bleeding (UGB) are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS UGB is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. While UGB can be caused by a wide variety of medical conditions, 50% of UGB cases are caused by peptic ulcers. Approximately 80% of all UGB episodes stop bleeding spontaneously. Recurrence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage is associated with an increased mortality rate, a greater need for surgery, blood transfusions, a prolonged length of hospital stay, and increased overall health care costs. All patients with UGB should be evaluated for signs and symptoms of hemodynamic instability and active hemorrhage. Endoscopy within the first 24 hours of a UGB episode is considered the standard of therapy for the management of the initial hemorrhage. However, approximately 20% of patients will experience a rebleeding episode. Acid-suppressive therapy with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) in addition to endoscopic hemostasis is effective in reducing the frequency of rebleeding, the need for surgery, transfusion requirements, and the length of hospital stay, but not mortality rates. There are multiple dosing options for administration of PPIs in this setting. More studies are necessary to elucidate the best therapeutic approach to manage UGB. CONCLUSIONS Acid-suppressive therapy is beneficial in the management of UGB. It reduces the frequency of rebleeding, the need for surgery, transfusion requirements, and the length of hospital stay. To date, no pharmacologic intervention has demonstrated a reduction in the mortality rates of patients with UGB. An optimal acid-suppressive regimen has not yet been clearly established.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010438 Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage Bleeding from a PEPTIC ULCER that can be located in any segment of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. Hemorrhage, Peptic Ulcer,Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhages,Ulcer Hemorrhage, Peptic
D006471 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Bleeding in any segment of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT from ESOPHAGUS to RECTUM. Hematochezia,Hemorrhage, Gastrointestinal,Gastrointestinal Hemorrhages,Hematochezias
D006635 Histamine H2 Antagonists Drugs that selectively bind to but do not activate histamine H2 receptors, thereby blocking the actions of histamine. Their clinically most important action is the inhibition of acid secretion in the treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers. Smooth muscle may also be affected. Some drugs in this class have strong effects in the central nervous system, but these actions are not well understood. Antihistaminics, H2,H2 Receptor Blockader,Histamine H2 Antagonist,Histamine H2 Blocker,Histamine H2 Receptor Antagonist,Histamine H2 Receptor Antagonists,Histamine H2 Receptor Blockader,Histamine H2 Receptor Blockaders,Antagonists, Histamine H2,Blockaders, Histamine H2 Receptor,H2 Receptor Blockaders,Histamine H2 Blockers,Receptor Antagonists, Histamine H2,Receptor Blockaders, H2,Antagonist, Histamine H2,Blockader, H2 Receptor,Blockaders, H2 Receptor,Blocker, Histamine H2,Blockers, Histamine H2,H2 Antagonist, Histamine,H2 Antagonists, Histamine,H2 Antihistaminics,H2 Blocker, Histamine,H2 Blockers, Histamine,Receptor Blockader, H2
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006863 Hydrogen-Ion Concentration The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D000897 Anti-Ulcer Agents Various agents with different action mechanisms used to treat or ameliorate PEPTIC ULCER or irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. This has included ANTIBIOTICS to treat HELICOBACTER INFECTIONS; HISTAMINE H2 ANTAGONISTS to reduce GASTRIC ACID secretion; and ANTACIDS for symptomatic relief. Anti-Ulcer Drugs,Agents, Anti-Ulcer,Anti Ulcer Agents,Anti Ulcer Drugs,Drugs, Anti-Ulcer
D016032 Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic Works about clinical trials that involve at least one test treatment and one control treatment, concurrent enrollment and follow-up of the test- and control-treated groups, and in which the treatments to be administered are selected by a random process, such as the use of a random-numbers table. Clinical Trials, Randomized,Controlled Clinical Trials, Randomized,Trials, Randomized Clinical
D016558 Hemostasis, Endoscopic Control of bleeding performed through the channel of the endoscope. Techniques include use of lasers, heater probes, bipolar electrocoagulation, and local injection. Endoscopic hemostasis is commonly used to treat bleeding esophageal and gastrointestinal varices and ulcers. Endoscopic Hemostasis,Endoscopic Hemostases,Hemostases, Endoscopic
D054328 Proton Pump Inhibitors Compounds that inhibit H(+)-K(+)-EXCHANGING ATPASE. They are used as ANTI-ULCER AGENTS and sometimes in place of HISTAMINE H2 ANTAGONISTS for GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX. Proton Pump Inhibitor,Inhibitor, Proton Pump,Inhibitors, Proton Pump,Pump Inhibitor, Proton
D017850 Economics, Pharmaceutical Economic aspects of the fields of pharmacy and pharmacology as they apply to the development and study of medical economics in rational drug therapy and the impact of pharmaceuticals on the cost of medical care. Pharmaceutical economics also includes the economic considerations of the pharmaceutical care delivery system and in drug prescribing, particularly of cost-benefit values. (From J Res Pharm Econ 1989;1(1); PharmacoEcon 1992;1(1)) Pharmaceutical Economics,Pharmacoeconomics,Pharmacy Economics,Economic, Pharmacy,Economics, Pharmacy,Pharmacy Economic

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