Poor late prognosis of bleeding peptic ulcer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Long-term course of peptic ulcer bleeding is unclear. Because of a more aged and more diseased ulcer population, the long-term prognosis may be expected as poor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a prospective study, all patients with peptic ulcer bleeding treated at the Department of Surgery of the Heinrich-Heine-University in Düsseldorf were included between 1986 and 1995. Follow-up covered hospital mortality, 1-month mortality, 1-year mortality, and 5-years mortality. Significant prognostic parameters for death were investigated in univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred and seventy-one out of 192 patients with peptic ulcer bleeding could be followed up. One-month mortality was similar to hospital mortality with 12.3%, 1-year mortality was 28.7%, and the 5-years mortality was 46.8%! In univariate analysis, statistically significant prognostic factors for death were ages beyond 70 years, concomitant diseases, risk-related drugs, postinterventional complications, and recurrent bleeding. In multivariate analysis, age, postinterventional complications, and type of admission were statistically significant parameters for death.

CONCLUSION

Long-term prognosis of peptic ulcer bleeding is poor! The majority of deaths after hospital stay is probably not because of ulcer bleeding, but because of more aged patients with severe concomitant diseases.

[Controversy in the indication of surgical treatment of acute bleeding for peptic ulcers in gastroduodenum]

INTRODUCTION

Bleeding in the upper part of GI tract is a serious condition requiring careful investigation and adequate treatment. The surgical treatment is irreplaceable in the case of unsuccessful conservative treatments. The timing of a surgical intervention in diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm is still controversial, although there are a lot of identification factors.

MATERIAL

538 patients with bleeding I and IIA according to Forrest classification were hospitalized in surgical ICU in the period from July 2001 till December 2006. There were 310 men and 228 women together.

RESULT

34 patients with mortality 17.6% were surgically treated after unsuccessful conservative and endoscopic treatment.

CONCLUSION

The early surgical intervention for patients with bleeding from peptic ulcus decreases its mortality. The emergency surgical intervention is necessary for patients when bleeding continues in an adequate conservative treatment or in the excessive recurrent bleeding. It is also necessary when the active bleeding is not endoscopicaly treatable or approachable. The number of emergency surgical interventions can be decreased by effective endoscopical treatment and by stabilization of patients. In the case of the location of bleeding in the back wall of duodenal bulbus or in the location of little curvature and especially in bigger peptical lesions the elective surgical intervention should be concerned because of the high risk of recurrence of bleeding. The mortality rate in emergency surgical intervention for excessive bleeding ranges from 10 till 50% compared with elective operations according to literature.

Continuous infusion of high-dose omeprazole is more effective than standard-dose omeprazole in patients with high-risk peptic ulcer bleeding: a retrospective study

High-dose omeprazole reduces the rate of recurrent bleeding after endoscopic treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding. However, the effectiveness of high-dose vs. standard-dose omeprazole in peptic ulcer bleeding has never been shown.

AIM

To compare the benefits of high-dose vs. standard-dose omeprazole in peptic ulcer bleeding.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical files of patients admitted between 1997 and 2004 for high-risk peptic ulcer bleeding who had undergone successful endoscopic treatment. We distinguished 2 periods: before 2001, standard-dose omeprazole (40 mg/day intravenously until alimentation was possible, then 40 mg/day orally for 1 week); after 2001, high-dose omeprazole (80 mg bolus injection, then 8 mg/h continuous infusion for 72 h, then 40 mg/day orally for 1 week). During both periods, patients subsequently received omeprazole, 20 mg/day, orally for 3 weeks.

RESULTS

We enrolled 114 patients (period 1, n = 45, period 2, n = 69). Therapy with high-dose omeprazole significantly decreased the occurrence of poor outcome (27 vs. 12%, P = 0.04), rebleeding (24 vs. 7%, P = 0.01), mortality due to haemorrhagic shock (11 vs. 0%, P < 0.001) and need for surgery (9 vs. 1%, P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective study, high-dose omeprazole reduced the occurrence of rebleeding, need for surgery and mortality due to hemorrhagic shock in patients with high-risk peptic ulcer bleeding, as compared with standard-dose omeprazole.

Sténose acquise non hypertrophique du pylore chez l'enfant

Pediatric non hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (NHPS) are uncommon. Their causes and treatments are debated.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Retrospective review of all cases of NHPS from 3 pediatric surgery services during the period 1984-2002.

RESULTS

Six children, aged 17 months to 15 years, underwent surgery for NHPS. Clinical symptoms, food vomiting and loss of weight, were present for several weeks before the diagnosis of NHPS was made. The diagnosis was peptic stenosis in 3 cases and has not been established in 3 cases. Search for Helicobacter pylori was negative in all cases. Failure of specific medical treatment and endoscopic dilatations led to pyloric resection in 3 cases and pyloroplasty in 3 cases. Post operative course was uneventful with normal oral feeding and normalisation of weight status. Histologic data were aspecific. No recurrence was observed.

DISCUSSION

We discuss the origin of the pyloric stenosis, regarding clinical, operative and pathological data: were the stenosis the cause or consequence of peptic ulcer? Peptic disease is always advocated, but difficult to prove and may be excessively incriminated. Late symptomatic congenital and acquired idiopathic pyloric stenosis should be recalled. In all cases of proved pyloric stenosis, after failure of medical and endoscopic treatment, a simple surgical procedure (pyloroplasty) associated with medical treatment seems to be effective.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of NHPS should be suspected in a child with food vomiting and loss of weight if his age is not concordant with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Upper gastro-intestinal series and endoscopy are diagnostic. The precise cause of the stenosis is more difficult to asses. When the medical treatment fails, a pyloroplasty is usually curative.

[Surgical treatment of bleeding gastroduodenal ulcer]

THE AIM OF THE STUDY

Based on the evaluation of results we prove authorization of our elected approach to the treatment of bleeding gastroduodenal ulcer with the restrained and careful choice of patients for surgeries.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The authors analyse in a retrospective study a group of 45 patients operated on for bleeding gastroduodenal ulcer in the period from 2001 to 2005 year. Only patients with actual conservatively or endoscopically ensolvable bleeding were consistenly indicated for surgery. We prefered the local surgical hemostasis procedure.

RESULTS

In the period from 2001 to 2005 year 45 patients were operated on. Altogether 9 patients died (20.0%). It was needed reoperated 8 patients (17.8%) for bleeding recurrence. In most cases (39 i.g. 86.7%) local surgical procedures were done.

CONCLUSION

Our reached results give clear warrant to the conservative surgical treatment, when only patients with actual endoscopically ensolvable bleeding from gastroduodenal ulcer are indicated for surgery and the aim of local surgical procedure is safe hemostasis. Our results are comparable with data in literature.

Is perforated marginal ulcer after the surgery of gastroduodenal ulcer associated with inadequate treatment for Helicobacter pylori eradication?

BACKGROUND

A marginal ulcer developing after an initial operation for gastroduodenal ulcer is a serious threat to the patient, and a challenge to surgeons. Helicobacter pylori is the primary cause of peptic ulcer disease. However, its role in ulcer recurrence, especially of marginal ulcer (MU), after peptic ulcer surgery is unclear. This study aimed to determine any association between H. pylori infection and perforated MU by comparing the prevalence of H. pylori and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use in patients with perforated (PMU) and in those with nonperforated MU (NPMU).

STUDY DESIGN

The study retrospectively evaluated the records of 16 patients with PMU who underwent surgical treatment and 24 patients with NPMU who underwent medical treatment in Atatürk University, School of Medicine, Department of General Surgery and Gastroenterology, between January 1995 and December 2004.

RESULTS

The rate of H. pylori in the PMU group was significantly higher than that of the NPMU group (P < 0.01). There was a significant relationship between NSAID consumption and PMU compared with NPMU patients (P < 0.01). There was also a significant relationship between NSAID consumption and H. pylori and PMU (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Eradication of H. pylori after the first PMU operation especially in cases with impaired hemodynamics, severe peritoneal contamination, and/or a diameter smaller than 1 cm and avoiding the use of NSAIDs will surely reduce the risk of relapsing ulcers.

[Gastroduodenoscopy at diagnosis and treatment of ulcerous gastroduodenal bleedings]

Results of treatment of 458 patients with ulcerous gastroduodenal bleedings are analyzed. It is demonstrated that argon-plasma coagulation (APC) is the most effective at primary endoscopic hemostasis and amounts to 92.5% compared with 87.5% at radio-wave coagulation and 79.7% at injection method. Treatment and diagnostic algorithm based on patients state severity assessment (by SAPS scale) and risk of bleeding (by Forrest) was developed. Use of this algorithm led to decrease of lethality due to acute blood less from 6.1 to 2.7% (including at conservative treatment from 4.5 to 2.2%) and postoperative lethality from 14.5 to 5.6%.

Effect of oral esomeprazole on recurrent bleeding after endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers

BACKGROUND

After endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcer, a high-dose infusion of omeprazole substantially reduces the risk of recurrent bleeding. The role of oral proton pump inhibitors for these patients is uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether the use of oral esomeprazole would reduce the frequency of recurrent bleeding after endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers.

METHODS

Patients with actively bleeding ulcers or ulcers with non-bleeding visible vessels were treated with an epinephrine injection followed by thermocoagulation. After hemostasis had been achieved, they were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to receive esomeprazole (40 mg p.o. twice daily for 3 days) or placebo. The outcome measures studied were recurrent bleeding, blood transfusion requirement, surgery and death.

RESULTS

A total of 70 patients were enrolled, 35 in each group. Bleeding recurred within 30 days in two patients (5.7%) in the esomeprazole group, as compared with three (8.6%) in the placebo group (P = 0.999). Blood transfusion requirement was 2.8 +/- 1.4 units in the esomeprazole group and 2.7 +/- 1.3 units in the placebo group (P = 0.761). Duration of hospitalization was 4.82 +/- 1.8 days in the esomeprazole group and 4.58 +/- 2.7 days in the placebo group (P = 0.792). No patients needed surgery for control of bleeding and no patients died in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

After successful endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcer, oral use of esomeprazole might offer no additional benefit on the risk of recurrent bleeding.

[Choice of treatment method at acute gastroduodenal ulcerous bleedings]

Experience of treatment of 1307 patients with acute gastroduodenal ulcerous bleedings is analyzed. Three variants of treatment tactics are compared: expectant, active and differential. Differential tactics based on prediction of bleeding recurrence and assessment of patient's condition severity permit to improve the treatment results. Original clinical-endoscopic system of hemostasis stability assessment was used for prediction of bleeding recurrence, integral scale APACHE III--for assessment of patient's condition severity. Algorithm of treatment at acute gastroduodenal ulcerous bleedings is offered. Principles of differential treatment tactics have permitted to reduce overall lethality at acute gastroduodenal ulcerous bleedings to 3.2%, postoperative lethality--to 6.2%.

[Surgical approach to combined and repeated complications of stomach and duodenal ulcer]

The combined and serious repeated complications of the peptic disease are rarely met in the clinical practice. They put a lot of problems for solving and the decision is usually taken in conditions of emergency. The authors present their experience in treating this type of pathology. They divide the complications into groups and make analysis of the behavior, the surgical methods used and the results of the treatment.

[Plastic closure of large ulcers of duodenum posterior wall complicated with bleeding]

New method of organ-saving surgery for bleeding duodenal ulcer is described. Advantages of this method have been confirmed in experimental studies on 10 mongrel dogs and by successful clinical application at 3 patients with large bleeding ulcers of duodenum posterior wall.

[Surgical perspectives in treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers]

Peptic ulcer bleeding has overall incidence of 50 to 150 on 100.000 grown-ups per year and represents cause for over 1% of all urgent hospitalization today. Despite of the evolution of the endoscopic diagnostics and haemostasis, improved intensive care and surgical treatment, overall mortality is still over 10% (operative treatment over 20%), and it almost hasn't changed over past 40 years. For more than 100 years surgery had major role in treatment of peptic bleeding ulcers, whereas nowadays it is limited to treatment of its complications. Adequate surgical treatment demands properly timed operation, safest but appropriate operation and trained surgeon. Early surgery is much better compared to the last minute surgery. At high risk rebleeding ulcer, early delayed surgery appears to be adequate, since the complications and lethal outcome are more frequent in this group.

[Use of the protocols of organization of the medico-diagnostic care for ulcerous gastroduodenal bleedings in clinical practice]

Results of realization of the protocols of organization of the medico-diagnostic care to patients with bleedings from chronic gastric and duodenal ulcers since 2002 have been analyzed. A simplified scale of the assessment of severity of ulcerous bleedings (UB) at admission including 8 criteria is proposed. Protocols of medical strategy for "severe UB" under conditions of the resuscitation unit are discussed. The principles of rendering the medico-diagnostic care for UB allowed stabilization of total lethality among these patients at the level of 3.4-3.7% at operative activity 27%. The possibility to improve results of the treatment of this pathology in future is associated by the authors with the available and high quality elements of conservative treatment.

[Strategy of treatment of patients with ulcerous gastroduodenal bleedings]

The work is based on an analysis of results of treatment of 557 patients with gastro-duodenal bleedings. It was shown that using modem endoscopic methods of bleeding arrest (APC) and antisecretory preparations allowed successful conservative treatment of patients with ulcerous gastroduodenal bleedings, thus minimizing the probability of the development of recurrent bleedings. The proposed medico-diagnostic algorithm allowed total lethality to be decreased from 29.5 to 11.2%, and the number of compulsory operations from 16 to 11.2%.

A head to head comparison of oral vs intravenous omeprazole for patients with bleeding peptic ulcers with a clean base, flat spots and adherent clots

AIM: To compare the effect of intravenous and oral omeprazole in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers without high-risk stigmata.

METHODS: This randomized study included 211 patients [112 receiving iv omeprazole protocol (Group 1), 99 receiving po omeprazole 40 mg every 12 h (Group 2)] with a mean age of 52.7. In 144 patients the ulcers showed a clean base, and in 46 the ulcers showed flat spots and in 21 old adherent clots. The endpoints were re-bleeding, surgery, hospital stay, blood transfusion and death. After discharge, re-bleeding and death were re-evaluated within 30 d.

RESULTS: The study groups were similar with respect to baseline characteristics. Re-bleeding was recorded in 5 patients of Group 1 and in 4 patients of Group 2 (P = 0.879). Three patients in Group 1 and 2 in Group 2 underwent surgery (P = 0.773). The mean length of hospital stay was 4.6 ± 1.6 d in Group 1 vs 4.5 ± 2.6 d in Group 2 (P = 0.710); the mean amounts of blood transfusion were 1.9 ± 1.1 units in Group 1 vs 2.1 ± 1.7 units in Group 2 (P = 0.350). Four patients, two in each group died (P = 0.981). After discharge, a new bleeding occurred in 2 patients of Group 1 and in 1 patient of Group 2, and one patient from Group 1 died.

CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that the effect of oral omeprazole is as effective as intravenous therapy in terms of re-bleeding, surgery, transfusion requirements, hospitalization and mortality in patients with bleeding ulcers with low risk stigmata. These patients can be treated effectively with oral omeprazole.

Clinical applications of argon plasma coagulation in endoscopy

The argon plasma coagulator is a device used for noncontact thermal coagulation of tissue. The device was first used in open and laparoscopic surgical procedures and in 1991 was adapted for use in endoscopy. Since then, argon plasma coagulation has expanded its clinical applications in the treatment of various gastrointestinal conditions. The endoscopy nurse plays an important role in the care of patients before, during, and after argon plasma coagulation treatment. This article reviews the principles and components of the argon plasma coagulator, and provides a summary of the various clinical applications, patient safety practices, and potential complications of argon plasma coagulation therapy.

Complications of peptic ulcer disease in children and adolescents: minimally invasive treatments offer feasible surgical options

PURPOSE

Surgery for complications of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) carries a significant morbidity and even mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy, safety, and outcome of children and adolescents undergoing minimally invasive treatment of bleeding and perforation complicating PUD.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-two consecutive patients aged 6 to 17 years managed endoscopically for bleeding and laparoscopically for perforation from January 1999 to February 2006 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Thirty children had significant endoscopic stigma of recent hemorrhage. Primary endoscopic hemostasis was achieved in most cases except one requiring further endoscopic hemostasis. Seventeen patients with perforation underwent laparoscopic patch repair. Four patients were converted to open repair because of technical difficulty and the large size of the ulcer. All patients had a course of proton pump inhibitors postoperatively. Ninety percent of patients had Helicobacter pylori infestation. Triple therapy was given. Two patients defaulted triple therapy and presented later with recurrent ulcer bleeding. All others remained asymptomatic on follow-up (average, 32.6 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic hemostasis of bleeding peptic ulcer is effective and safe in children. With stringent criteria, laparoscopic patch repair of perforation can be applied safely to most pediatric patients. Eradication of H pylori and subsequent antiulcer medication are integral in the management of complicated PUD.

Randomized controlled study of 3 different types of hemoclips for hemostasis of bleeding canine acute gastric ulcers

BACKGROUND

Mechanical closure of bleeding vessels is clinically appealing, and several types of hemoclips are now marketed for endoscopic hemostasis of nonvariceal lesions. No comparative data have been reported on ease of clip placement, hemostasis efficacy, or clip retention rates on bleeding ulcers.

OBJECTIVE

To compare 3 different types of hemoclips for hemostasis of bleeding ulcers.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled study.

SUBJECTS

Seven adult dogs with prehepatic portal hypertension were heparinized, and acute gastric ulcers were made with jumbo biopsy forceps. Animals had oral proton pump inhibitors daily and weekly endoscopies to quantitate clip retention and ulcer healing.

INTERVENTIONS

Bleeding ulcers were randomized in pairs (2 for each treatment/dog) to endoscopic hemoclip treatment or control.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Initial times and success of deployment, hemostasis efficacy, clip retention rates, and ulcer healing during endoscopic follow-ups.

RESULTS

There was no difference in initial hemostasis rates of hemoclips, and no major complications occurred. Ulcer healing times were faster (Resolution Clip [RC] or TriClip [TC]) or similar (QuickClip2 [QC]) to controls. Clip retention at 1 week was significantly less with TC and, at 3 to 7 weeks, was significantly higher with RC.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) For the 3 hemoclip devices, initial hemostasis rates were 100%, but all devices required similar learning time to place clips successfully. (2) Short-term retention rates of TC were significantly less than QC or RC. (3) Long-term clip retention was significantly higher with RC. (4) All 3 hemoclips were safe, and none interfered with ulcer healing.

Variations reported in surgical practice for bleeding duodenal ulcers

BACKGROUND

To determine the current surgical management of bleeding duodenal ulcers in our program, faculty (FAC) and residents (RES) were surveyed.

METHODS

FAC (n = 33) and RES (n = 42) were surveyed regarding their surgery of choice between oversew (OS) or acid-reducing procedures (ARPs) in 4 scenarios. FAC who had recertified in general surgery (RECERT) were compared with young FAC who had not and RES (RES/young FAC). Two-group comparisons were performed.

RESULTS

Seventy-three percent of FAC and 62% of RES responded. RES perform more ARPs on hemodynamic (HD), unstable, elderly patients than FAC (P = .013). On the elderly patient, RES/young FAC perform more ARPs in a HD stable (P = .07) and unstable condition (P = .18). HD unstable patients would undergo OS more frequently than stable patients (P = .016).

CONCLUSIONS

In this survey, the choice of optimal surgical procedure for an acute bleeding ulcer varies among surgeons based on years of surgical experience and individual patient factors.

Emergency gastric ulcer complications in elderly. Factors affecting the morbidity and mortality in relation to therapeutic approaches

AIM

In elderly the incidence of the emergency gastric ulcer complications, perforation and bleeding are increasing, with a difficult management of these patients for their concomitant diseases. The aim of this work is to analyze the therapeutical approach of emergency gastric ulcer complications in elderly patients, in order to establish the factors affecting the morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

Patients older than 70 years, presenting gastric ulcer, observed in a tertiary University Hospital from 1995 to 2003, have been considered for the present study. Two groups of diseases have been examined: ulcer perforation and bleeding ulcer. Age, sex, risk factors, comorbidity, methods of diagnosis, ulcer characteristics, treatment, morbidity, mortality, hospitalization time and follow-up have been considered in each group.

RESULTS

Thirteen elderly patients with perforated gastric ulcer have been observed: 9 (69.2%) females and 4 (30.8%) males with a mean age of 80.5 years (range 70-90). Four patients were hospitalized in suburban hospital with an average time between the diagnosis and the surgery of 36 h, while the remnants were hospitalized directly in our Department with a medium waiting time of about 2 h. The surgical procedures were: simple closure with omentum patch in 11 cases (84.6%), and antrectomy in 2 cases (15.4%), in which the antrum was multiply perforated. Two patients presented an ulcer larger than 2 cm treated with simple suture and omental patch without morbidity and mortality. Three patients (23%) died postoperatively, due to septic shock, ventricular fibrillation and intraoperative massive haemorrhage, 2 of these patients came from other hospitals. Twenty-eight elderly patients with bleeding gastric ulcer have been observed during the same period: 13 (46.4%) females and 15 (53.6%) males with a mean age of 79.6 years (range 71-91). Except 2 patients submitted to endoscopic treatment both with adrenaline injection, all the remnant patients were managed with medical therapy (H2-receptor antagonist or proton pump inhibitors and in 7 patients [24.1%] antihaemorrhage drugs), and clinical observation, with a endoscopic control 3-4 days after from the first endoscopy. One of the 2 patients endoscopically treated developed a ulcer perforation after 11 days, and the other one rebled, without possibility of any kind of treatment due to his instable condition of health. Three patients (10.7%) died during their hospital stay not for causes strictly due to the gastric haemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the early diagnoses and early treatment are 2 basic factor on the prognosis of elderly patients with perforated gastric ulcer. The choice between simple closure, with or without vagotomy, or gastrectomy depends from preoperative and operative health conditions of the patient. In patients with ulcer larger than 2 cm, Graham's technique can be performed safely if the preoperative and intraoperative conditions are favourable. Elderly patients with gastric ulcer bleeding show an high risk of morbidity and mortality, related to the risk factors like non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) intake or smoke. Repeated endoscopy and antiulcer drugs can manage the high stage patients of Forrest's classification with a low rate of morbidity and mortality. According to literature surgical treatment should be reserved after the second failure of endoscopic treatment.

[Gastrointestinal bleeding--concepts of surgical therapy in the upper gastrointestinal tract]

Bleeding of the upper gastrointestinal tract is the main symptom of a variety of possible conditions and still results in considerable mortality. Endoscopy is the first diagnostic modality, enabling rapid therapeutic intervention. In case of intractable or relapsing bleeding, surgery is often inevitable. However, emergency operations result in significantly higher mortality rates. Therefore the option of early elective surgical intervention should be considered for patients at increased risk of relapsing bleeding. If bleeding is symptomatic due to a complex underlying condition such as hemosuccus pancreaticus or hemobilia, angiography is now recognized as the definitive investigation. Angiographic hemostasis can be achieved in most cases. Due to the underlying condition, surgical management still remains the mainstay in treating these patients. This paper reviews surgical strategy in handling upper gastrointestinal bleeding.