High-dose barium impaction therapy for the recurrence of colonic diverticular bleeding: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Surg. 2015;261:269-275. [PMID: 25569028 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000000658]

Fragility of Statistically Significant Outcomes in Colonic Diverticular Disease Randomized Trials: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The p value has been criticized as an oversimplified determination of whether a treatment effect exists. One alternative is the fragility index. It is a representation of the minimum number of nonevents that would need to be converted to events to increase the p value above 0.05.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the fragility index of randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of interventions for patients with diverticular disease since 2010 to assess the robustness of current evidence.

DESIGN

MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to August 2022.

SETTINGS

Articles were eligible for inclusion if they were randomized trials conducted between 2010 and 2022 with parallel, superiority designs evaluating interventions in patients with diverticular disease. Only randomized trials with dichotomous primary outcomes with an associated p value of <0.05 were considered for inclusion.

PARTICIPANTS

Any surgical or medical intervention for patients with diverticular disease.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The fragility index was determined by adding events and subtracting nonevents from the groups with the smaller number of events. Events were added until the p value exceeded 0.05. The smallest number of events required was considered the fragility index.

RESULTS

After screening 1271 citations, 15 randomized trials met the inclusion criteria. Nine of the studies evaluated surgical interventions and 6 evaluated medical interventions. The mean number of patients randomly assigned and lost to follow-up per randomized controlled trial was 92 (SD 35.3) and 9 (SD 11.4), respectively. The median fragility index was 1 (range, 0-5). The fragility indices for the included studies did not correlate significantly with any study characteristics.

LIMITATIONS

Small sample, heterogeneity, and lack of inclusion of studies with continuous outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The randomized trials evaluating surgical and medical interventions for diverticular disease are not robust. Changing a single-outcome event in most studies was sufficient to make a statistically significant study finding not significant. See Video Abstract .

FRAGILIDAD DE LOS RESULTADOS ESTADSTICAMENTE SIGNIFICATIVOS EN ENSAYOS ALEATORIOS DE ENFERMEDAD DIVERTICULAR DEL COLON UNA REVISIN SISTEMTICA

ANTECEDENTES:El valor p ha sido criticado por una determinación demasiado simplificada de si existe un efecto del tratamiento. Una alternativa es el Índice de Fragilidad. Es una representación del número mínimo de no eventos que deberían convertirse en eventos para aumentar el valor p por encima de 0,05.OBJETIVO:Determinar el IF de ensayos controlados aleatorios que evalúan la eficacia de las intervenciones para pacientes con enfermedad diverticular desde 2010 para evaluar la solidez de la evidencia actual.FUENTES DE DATOS:Se realizaron búsquedas en MEDLINE, Embase y CENTRAL desde el inicio hasta agosto de 2022.SELECCIÓN DE ESTUDIOS:Los artículos eran elegibles para su inclusión si eran ensayos aleatorizados realizados entre 2010 y 2022 con diseños paralelos de superioridad que evaluaran intervenciones en pacientes con enfermedad diverticular. Sólo se consideraron para su inclusión los ensayos aleatorizados con resultados primarios dicotómicos con un valor de p asociado menor que 0,05.INTERVENCIÓNES:Cualquier intervención quirúrgica o médica para pacientes con enfermedad diverticular.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE VALORACIÓN:El índice de fragilidad se determinó sumando eventos y restando no eventos de los grupos con el menor número de eventos. Se agregaron eventos hasta que el valor p superó 0,05. El menor número de eventos requeridos se consideró índice de fragilidad.RESULTADOS:Después de examinar 1271 citas, 15 ensayos aleatorios cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Nueve de los estudios evaluaron intervenciones quirúrgicas y seis evaluaron intervenciones médicas. El número medio de pacientes aleatorizados y perdidos durante el seguimiento por ECA fue 92 (DE 35,3) y 9 (DE 11,4), respectivamente. La mediana del índice de fragilidad fue 1 (rango: 0-5). Los índices de fragilidad de los estudios incluidos no se correlacionaron significativamente con ninguna característica del estudio.LIMITACIONES:Muestra pequeña, heterogeneidad y falta de inclusión de estudios con resultados continuos.CONCLUSIONES:Los ensayos aleatorios que evalúan las intervenciones quirúrgicas y médicas para la enfermedad diverticular no son sólidos. Cambiar un solo evento de resultado en la mayoría de los estudios fue suficiente para que un hallazgo estadísticamente significativo del estudio no fuera significativo. (Traducción- Dr. Ingrid Melo ).

German guideline diverticular disease/diverticulitis: Part I: Methods, pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical characteristics (definitions), natural course, diagnosis and classification

Diverticulosis and diverticular disease are ranked among the most common gastroenterological diseases and conditions. While for many years diverticulitis was found to be mainly an event occurring in the elder population, more recent work in epidemiology demonstrates increasing frequency in younger subjects. In addition, there is a noticeable trend towards more complicated disease. This may explain the significant increase in hospitalisations observed in recent years. It is not a surprise that the number of scientific studies addressing the clinical and socioeconomic consequences in the field is increasing. As a result, diagnosis and conservative as well as surgical management have changed in recent years. Diverticulosis, diverticular disease and diverticulitis are a complex entity and apparently an interdisciplinary challenge. To meet theses considerations the German Societies for Gastroenterology and Visceral Surgery decided to create joint guidelines addressing all aspects in a truely interdisciplinary fashion. The aim of the guideline is to summarise and to evaluate the current state of knowledge on diverticulosis and diverticular disease and to develop statements as well as recommendations to all physicians involved in the management of patients with diverticular disease.

Treatment strategies for reducing early and late recurrence of colonic diverticular bleeding based on stigmata of recent hemorrhage: a large multicenter study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Treatment strategies for colonic diverticular bleeding (CDB) based on stigmata of recent hemorrhage (SRH) remain unstandardized, and no large studies have evaluated their effectiveness. We sought to identify the best strategy among combinations of SRH identification and endoscopic treatment strategies.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 5823 CDB patients who underwent colonoscopy at 49 hospitals throughout Japan (CODE-BLUE J-Study). Three strategies were compared: find SRH (definitive CDB) and treat endoscopically, find SRH (definitive CDB) and treat conservatively, and without finding SRH (presumptive CDB) treat conservatively. In conducting pairwise comparisons of outcomes in these groups, we used propensity score-matching analysis to balance baseline characteristics between the groups being compared.

RESULTS

Both early and late recurrent bleeding rates were significantly lower in patients with definitive CDB treated endoscopically than in those with presumptive CDB treated conservatively (<30 days, 19.6% vs 26.0% [P < .001]; <365 days, 33.7% vs 41.6% [P < .001], respectively). In patients with definitive CDB, the early recurrent bleeding rate was significantly lower in those treated endoscopically than in those treated conservatively (17.4% vs 26.7% [P = .038] for a single test of hypothesis; however, correction for multiple testing of data removed this significance). The late recurrent bleeding rate was also lower, but not significantly, in those treated endoscopically (32.0% vs 36.1%, P = .426). Definitive CDB treated endoscopically showed significantly lower early and late recurrent bleeding rates than when treated conservatively in cases of SRH with active bleeding, nonactive bleeding, and in the right-sided colon but not left-sided colon.

CONCLUSIONS

Treating definitive CDB endoscopically was most effective in reducing recurrent bleeding over the short and long term, compared with not treating definitive CDB or presumptive CDB. Physicians should endeavor to find and treat SRH for suspected CDB.

Effectiveness of therapeutic standard concentration barium enema for colonic diverticular bleeding: Preliminary results

Purpose

To evaluate the effectiveness of a therapeutic barium enema as a treatment for colonic diverticulum bleeding, by using a standard concentration as a diagnostic examination.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 68 cases of the patients admitted to our hospital with colonic diverticular bleeding between October 2012 and September 2017. We evaluated the following items: (1) the presence/absence of a previous history of diverticular bleeding, (2) the use of medications (anticoagulants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antiplatelet drugs), (3) the location of bleeding, (4) the presence/absence of previous treatment and the result, (5) the time between bleeding and the beginning of the barium enema, (6) procedural success, (7) the clinical success of the initial hemostasis, (8) the clinical success of preventing recurrence, and (9) complications such as perforation and diverticulitis associated with this procedure.

Results

Four patients (three men and one woman; age range 60–85 years; median age 76 years) who underwent therapeutic barium enema with a concentration equivalent for diagnostic purpose (78 w/v%) were included. The follow-up period ranged from 11 to 12 months (median 12 months). All three patients who received a barium enema for initial hemostasis were successfully treated. All four patients remained free from recurrence during the follow-up period. There was no complication due to barium in this series.

Conclusion

Although we had no statistical evidence, a therapeutic barium enema with a standard concentration as a diagnostic examination may be effective for both the initial hemostasis and preventing the recurrence of colonic diverticular bleeding without complications.

The Mexican consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of diverticular disease of the colon

Since the publication of the 2008 guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of diverticular disease of the colon by the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología, significant advances have been made in the knowledge of that disease. A systematic review of articles published in the medical literature from January 2008 to July 2018 was carried out to revise and update the 2008 guidelines and provide new evidence-based recommendations. All high-quality articles in Spanish and English published within that time frame were included. The final versions of the 43 statements accepted in the three rounds of voting, utilizing the Delphi method, were written, and the quality of evidence and strength of the recommendations were established for each statement, utilizing the GRADE system. The present consensus contains new data on the definition, classification, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and risk factors of diverticular disease of the colon. Special emphasis is given to the usefulness of computed tomography and colonoscopy, as well as to the endoscopic methods for controlling bleeding. Outpatient treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis is discussed, as well as the role of rifaximin and mesalazine in the management of complicated acute diverticulitis. Both its minimally invasive alternatives and surgical options are described, stressing their indications, limitations, and contraindications. The new statements provide guidelines based on updated scientific evidence. Each statement is discussed, and its quality of evidence and the strength of the recommendation are presented.

Initial management for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding

Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a common indication for hospital admission. Patients with LGIB often experience persistent or recurrent bleeding and require blood transfusions and interventions, such as colonoscopic, radiological, and surgical treatments. Appropriate decision-making is needed to initially manage acute LGIB, including emergency hospitalization, timing of colonoscopy, and medication use. In this literature review, we summarize the evidence for initial management of acute LGIB. Assessing various clinical factors, including comorbidities, medication use, presenting symptoms, vital signs, and laboratory data is useful for risk stratification of severe LGIB, and for discriminating upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Early timing of colonoscopy had the possibility of improving identification of the bleeding source, and the rate of endoscopic intervention, compared with elective colonoscopy. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography before colonoscopy may help identify stigmata of recent hemorrhage on colonoscopy, particularly in patients who can be examined immediately after the last hematochezia. How to deal with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antithrombotic agents after hemostasis should be carefully considered because of the risk of rebleeding and thromboembolic events. In general, aspirin as primary prophylaxis for cardiovascular events and NSAIDs were suggested to be discontinued after LGIB. Managing acute LGIB based on this information would improve clinical outcomes. Further investigations are needed to distinguish patients with LGIB who require early colonoscopy and hemostatic intervention.

Long-term recurrent bleeding risk after endoscopic therapy for definitive colonic diverticular bleeding: band ligation versus clipping

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Very few prospective studies with over 100 samples have evaluated the long-term outcomes of endoscopic therapy for colonic diverticular bleeding (CDB). This study sought to elucidate the recurrent bleeding risk of endoscopic band ligation versus clipping for definitive CDB based on stigmata of recent hemorrhage (SRH).

METHODS

Patients emergently hospitalized for acute lower GI bleeding and examined by high-resolution colonoscopy were enrolled. Better visualization of SRH from a diverticulum was obtained using a water-jet device. Endoscopic band ligation or clipping was performed as first-line treatment, and patients were prospectively followed after discharge.

RESULTS

No statistical difference was found between the ligation (n = 61) and clipping (n = 47) groups in baseline characteristics or follow-up period. The probability of 1-year recurrent bleeding was 11.5% in the ligation group versus 37.0% in the clipping group (P = .018). No patients required surgery or experienced perforation. One patient in the ligation group experienced diverticulitis the next day. In patients with recurrent bleeding within 7 days, the recurrent bleeding site was the same diverticulum, and ulceration was found in the ligation group on repeat colonoscopy. In patients with recurrent bleeding after 2 months, repeat colonoscopy identified that the recurrent bleeding site was different, and scar formation was seen in the ligation group. The left side of the colon was an independent predictor for recurrent bleeding in the ligation group but not in the clipping group.

CONCLUSIONS

Band ligation for definitive CDB has better outcomes than clipping during long-term follow-up after endoscopic therapy, probably because of complete elimination of the diverticulum. CDB can recur at the same diverticulum in the short term but at a different diverticulum in the long term.

Barium Enema for Treatment for Diverticular Bleeding

Diverticula of the colon are the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in adults. In cases of persistent loss of blood or severe acute hemorrhage, treatment is required. However, if these modern intervention techniques are inadequate, surgical resection of the colon may be required. Diverticular bleeding often concerns patients with a high surgical risk, so a less invasive treatment is preferable. A forgotten but excellent treatment, namely that of the obsolete barium contrast enema to staunch diverticular bleeding, is the focus of this case series. We describe 3 patients who were successfully treated with barium enema.

Management of Diverticular Hemorrhage: Catching That Culprit Diverticulum Red-Handed!

Background/Summary

Acute colonic diverticular hemorrhage (CDH) represents a significant challenge for gastroenterologists. There are some clinical problems in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of CDH. CDH is the most common cause of overt lower gastrointestinal bleeding in adults in Eastern and Western countries. Moreover, CDH imposes significant economic and clinical burdens on the health care system. Colonoscopy is recommended as a useful diagnostic tool for CDH after bowel preparation. Colonoscopy can be used to identify the culprit diverticulum and to provide endoscopic therapy. In most cases, however, the bleeding stops spontaneously. For this reason, it is still controversial whether urgent colonoscopy or elective colonoscopy is "preferable."

Key Messages

This review aims to highlight the various clinical problems (purge, timing of colonoscopy, CT angiography, and endoscopy) encountered in the attempt to identify and treat the culprit diverticulum red-handed.

Management of Diverticular Bleeding: Evaluation, Stabilization, Intervention, and Recurrence of Bleeding and Indications for Resection after Control of Bleeding

Diverticular bleeding is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding with nearly 200,000 admissions in the United States annually. Less than 5% of patients with diverticulosis present with diverticular bleeding and present usually as painless, intermittent, and large volume of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Management algorithm for patients presenting with diverticular bleeding includes resuscitation followed by diagnostic evaluation. Colonoscopy is the recommended first-line investigation and helps in identifying the stigmata of recent hemorrhage and endoscopic management of the bleeding. Radionuclide scanning is the most sensitive but least accurate test due to low spatial resolution. Angiography is helpful when patients are actively bleeding and therapeutic interventions are performed with angioembolization. Surgery for diverticular bleeding is necessary when associated with hemodynamic instability and after failed endoscopic or angiographic interventions. When the bleeding site is localized preoperatively, partial colectomy is sufficient, but subtotal colectomy is necessary when localization is not possible preoperatively.

Bleeding diverticulum of the colon treated with CT-guided percutaneous injection of epinephrine and cyanoacrylate

Hematochezia may be a result of anatomic, vascular, inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic diseases. Colonoscopic evaluation and therapy may be limited because of intermittent bleeding in the setting of numerous diverticula. This report describes a patient with diverticulosis who presented with hematochezia and hemodynamic instability with failed colonoscopic and arteriographic evaluations, and was treated with percutaneous transcolonic diverticular cyanoacrylate and epinephrine injection.

High Cost of Hospitalization for Colonic Diverticular Bleeding Depended on Repeated Bleeding and Blood Transfusion: Analysis with Diagnosis Procedure Combination Data in Japan

BACKGROUND

Bleeding from a colonic diverticulum is serious in aged patients. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for high-cost hospitalization of colonic diverticular bleeding using the diagnosis procedure combination (DPC) data.

METHODS

From January 2009 to December 2015, 78 patients with colonic diverticular bleeding were identified by DPC data in Saga Medical School Hospital. All patients underwent colonic endoscopy within 3 days. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the low-cost group (DPC cost of <500,000 yen) and the high-cost group (DPC cost of >500,000 yen).

RESULTS

Univariate analysis revealed that aging, hypertension, rebleeding, a low hemoglobin concentration at admission, and blood transfusion were risk factors for high hospitalization cost. Multivariate analysis revealed that rebleeding (OR 5.3; 95% CI 1.3-21.3; p = 0.017) and blood transfusion (OR 3.8; 95% CI 1.01-14.2; p = 0.048) were definite risk factors for high hospitalization cost.

CONCLUSION

Rebleeding and blood transfusion were related to high hospitalization cost for colonic diverticular bleeding.

Does Urgent Colonoscopy Improve Outcomes in the Management of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding?

Colonoscopy continues to be an essential diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the management of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). Studies that have evaluated the role of urgent colonoscopy for treating LGIB have reached conflicting conclusions. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the role of urgent colonoscopy in several outcomes in patients with LGIB. We searched Medline, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane databases from inception to July 10, 2016 for comparative studies evaluating the role of urgent versus elective colonoscopy in the management of LGIB. We evaluated mortality, rate of rebleeding, length of stay in hospital, identification of bleeding source, stigmata of recent hemorrhage and need for surgery. Pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated for dichotomous variables whereas standard mean differences were calculated for continuous variables. We assessed quality using the Cochrane tool and Newcastle Ottawa Scale for randomized controlled trials and observational studies, respectively. We used the GRADE framework to interpret our findings. A total of 6 studies (2 randomized controlled trials and 4 observational studies) with 23,419 patients (9,498 urgent colonoscopy and 13,921 elective colonoscopy) were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled ORs with 95% CI for mortality, rebleeding and identification of bleeding source were 0.84 (0.46-1.53), 1.18 (0.64-2.16) and 1.49 (0.86-2.59), respectively. Stigmata of recent hemorrhage were more readily identified with urgent colonoscopy OR 2.85 (1.90-4.28). There were no differences in requirement for surgery, length of hospital stay or rate of endoscopic intervention. However, these effect sizes were limited by considerable heterogeneity, which was probably due to studies being conducted in different countries having different criteria for discharge and on variations in the type of endoscopic therapy for stigmata of recent hemorrhage. In conclusion, among patients with acute LGIB, there is no evidence that urgent colonoscopy reduces mortality, rebleeding or requirement for surgery or that it improves the rate of identification of the bleeding source. However, urgent colonoscopy does increase the rate of detection of stigmata of recent hemorrhage.

Barium impaction therapy with balloon occlusion for deep colonic diverticular bleeding: a three-case series

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

In hemostasis for colonic diverticular bleeding, the incidence of recurrent bleeding is higher in deep colonic diverticulum than in shallow. We aimed to improve and evaluate barium impaction therapy using an enteroscopic overtube with balloon.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

We performed barium impaction therapy in three patients with a diagnosis of deep colonic diverticular bleeding. The tip of the overtube was inserted to reach the cecum using the conventional method. After deflating the colon, the enteroscope was removed. The balloon in the tube was inflated, followed by barium filling via the tube. Sufficient pressure was applied by ensuring no regurgitation into the small intestine side. The entire colon was continuously filled with barium in stages.

RESULTS

Post-treatment bleeding was controllable without adverse events in all three patients.

CONCLUSION

This novel barium impaction therapy using an enteroscopic overtube with balloon was effectively performed without adverse events.

Safety and Effectiveness of Early Colonoscopy in Management of Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding on the Basis of Propensity Score Matching Analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We investigated the safety and effectiveness of early colonoscopy (performed within 24 hours of hospital admission) for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) vs elective colonoscopy (performed 24 hours after admission).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study by using a database of endoscopies performed at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Tokyo, Japan from January 2009 through December 2014. We analyzed data from 538 patients emergently hospitalized for acute LGIB. We used propensity score matching to adjust for differences between patients who underwent early colonoscopy vs elective colonoscopy. Outcomes included rates of adverse events during bowel preparation and colonoscopy procedures, stigmata of recent hemorrhage, endoscopic therapy, blood transfusion requirement, 30-day rebleeding and mortality, and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

We selected 163 pairs of patients for analysis on the basis of propensity matching. We observed no significant differences between the early and elective colonoscopy groups in bowel preparation-related rates of adverse events (1.8% vs 1.2%, P = .652), colonoscopy-related rates of adverse events (none in either group), blood transfusion requirement (27.6% vs 27.6%, P = 1.000), or mortality (1.2% vs 0, P = .156). The early colonoscopy group had higher rates than the elective group for stigmata of recent hemorrhage (26.4% vs 9.2%, P < .001) and endoscopic therapy (25.8% vs 8.6%, P < .001), including clipping (17.8% vs 4.9%, P < .001), band ligation (6.1% vs 1.8%, P = .048), and rebleeding (13.5% vs 7.4%, P = .070). Patients in the early colonoscopy group stayed in the hospital for a shorter mean time (10 days) than patients in the elective colonoscopy group (13 days) (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Early colonoscopy for patients with acute LGIB is safe, allows for endoscopic therapy because it identifies the bleeding source, and reduces hospital stay. However, compared with elective colonoscopy, early colonoscopy does not reduce mortality and may increase the risk for rebleeding.

Lower GI bleeding: a review of current management, controversies and advances

PURPOSE

Lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is defined as bleeding distal to the ligament of Treitz. In the UK, it represents approximately 3 % of all surgical referrals to the hospital. This review aims to provide review of the current evidence regarding the management of this condition.

METHODS

Literature was searched using Medline, Pubmed, and Cochrane for relevant evidence by two researchers. This was conducted in a manner that enabled a narrative review of the evidence covering the aetiology, clinical assessment and management options of continuously bleeding patients.

FINDINGS

The majority of patients with acute lower GI bleeding can be treated conservatively. In cases where ongoing bleeding occurs, colonoscopy is still the first line of investigation and treatment. Failure of endoscopy and persistent instability warrant angiography, possibly preceded by CT angiography and proceeding to superselective embolisation. Failure of embolisation warrants surgical intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

There are still many unanswered questions. In particular, the development of a more reliable predictive tool for mortality, rebleeding and requirement for surgery needs to be the ultimate priority. There are a small number of encouraging developments on combination therapy with regard to angiography, endoscopy and surgery. Additionally, the increasing use of haemostatic agents provides an additional tool for the management of bleeding endoscopically in difficult situations.

Risk factors for adverse in-hospital outcomes in acute colonic diverticular hemorrhage

AIM: To investigate the factors associated with transfusion, further bleeding, and prolonged length of stay.

METHODS: In total, 153 patients emergently hospitalized for diverticular bleeding who were examined by colonoscopy were prospectively enrolled. Patients in whom the bleeding source was identified received endoscopic treatment such as clipping or endoscopic ligation. After spontaneous cessation of bleeding with conservative treatment or hemostasis with endoscopic treatment, all patients were started on a liquid food diet and gradually progressed to a solid diet over 3 d, and were discharged. At enrollment, we assessed smoking, alcohol, medications [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)], low-dose aspirin, and other antiplatelets, warfarin, acetaminophen, and oral corticosteroids), and co-morbidities [hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cerebro-cardiovascular disease, chronic liver disease, and chronic kidney disease (CKD)]. The in-hospital outcomes were need for transfusion, further bleeding after spontaneous cessation of hemorrhage, and length of hospital stay. The odds ratio (OR) for transfusion need, further bleeding, and prolonged length of stay were estimated by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: No patients required angiographic embolization or surgery. Stigmata of bleeding occurred in 18% of patients (27/153) and was treated by endoscopic procedures. During hospitalization, 40 patients (26%) received a median of 6 units of packed red blood cells. Multivariate analysis revealed that female sex (OR = 2.5, P = 0.02), warfarin use (OR = 9.3, P < 0.01), and CKD (OR = 5.9, P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for transfusion need. During hospitalization, 6 patients (3.9%) experienced further bleeding, and NSAID use (OR = 5.9, P = 0.04) and stigmata of bleeding (OR = 11, P < 0.01) were significant risk factors. Median length of hospital stay was 8 d. Multivariate analysis revealed that age > 70 years (OR = 2.1, P = 0.04) and NSAID use (OR = 2.7, P = 0.03) were independent risk factors for prolonged hospitalization (≥ 8 d).

CONCLUSION: In colonic diverticular bleeding, female sex, warfarin, and CKD increased the risk of transfusion requirement, while advanced age and NSAID increased the risk of prolonged hospitalization.