Efficacy of early endoscopy and colonoscopy in very elderly patients with gastrointestinal bleeding

Management of blood thinning medications in elderly populations presenting with rectal bleeding: Are we doing right?

Introduction

Rectal bleeding commonly occurs in elderly patients using blood thinners, posing management challenges due to limited guidance on reversal agents and medication restart criteria. This study aims to review the demographics and management of elderly patients with rectal bleeding while on blood thinners.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of patients aged 60 or older presenting with rectal bleeding at West Suffolk Hospital's emergency department was conducted from January 2018 to December 2020. Data were extracted from electronic records, focusing on patients using blood thinners and adhering to British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines. All patients ceased blood-thinning medications upon admission. The hospital's ethics committee approved the study, which focused on demographics, diagnosis, and management, particularly regarding re-initiation of blood-thinning medicines.

Results

During the study period, 170 patients were admitted to the emergency department of West Suffolk Hospital. 93 (54.71%) patients were included in the study. The average age of the participants was 82 years, and 62.3% were male. All patients were followed up for three months. Atrial fibrillation accounted for 52% of patients, while previous strokes accounted for 20%. The most typical pathology was diverticulosis.Regarding restarting of anticoagulants, Among patients on DOAC (Direct oral anticoagulant), 39% were restarted on discharge, 23% were switched to warfarin, and another 23% were not restarted; 15% planned to restart after seven days. For those on Warfarin, 62% were restarted on discharge, 22% stopped the medication, and the rest were switched to Dual Oral Anticoagulant. Among aspirin patients, 60% were restarted at discharge, while the remaining discontinued. All patients receiving clopidogrel and dual antiplatelet therapy were started at discharge. None of the patients were readmitted during the follow-up period of 3 months.

Conclusion

Restarting of blood-thinning drugs in patients with rectal bleeding is subject to individual patient variation. Necessitates more extensive trials to achieve greater standardization.

Evaluation of Esophageal Dysphagia in Elderly Patients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

While guidelines exist for the evaluation and management of esophageal dysphagia in the general population, dysphagia disproportionately affects the elderly. In this article, we reviewed the literature on evaluating esophageal dysphagia in elderly patients and proposed a diagnostic algorithm based on this evidence.

RECENT FINDINGS

In older patients, dysphagia is often well compensated for by altered eating habits and physiologic changes, underreported by patients, and missed by healthcare providers. Once identified, dysphagia should be differentiated into oropharyngeal and esophageal dysphagia to guide diagnostic workup. For esophageal dysphagia, this review proposes starting with endoscopy with biopsies, given its relative safety even in older patients and potential for interventional therapy. If endoscopy shows a structural or mechanical cause, then further cross-sectional imaging should be considered to assess for extrinsic compression, and same session endoscopic dilation should be considered for strictures. If biopsies and endoscopy are normal, then esophageal dysmotility is more likely, and high-resolution manometry and additional workup should be performed following the updated Chicago Classification. Even after diagnosis of the root cause, complications including malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia should also be assessed and monitored, as they both result from and can further contribute to dysphagia. The successful evaluation of esophageal dysphagia in elderly patients requires a thorough, standardized approach to collecting a history, selection of appropriate diagnostic workup, and assessment of risk of potential complications, including malnutrition and aspiration.

Timing of Colonoscopy for Hemodynamically Stable Patients With Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding

INTRODUCTION

The detection rate of the etiology of the lower gastrointestinal system (GIS) hemorrhage has been low, although urgent colonoscopy has been performed. Even if the etiology has been specified, the possibility of rebleeding is uncertain. Furthermore, adequate bowel cleansing required for colonoscopy cannot be achieved in emergency situations, so the procedure may fail. The aim of this study is to compare the etiological diagnoses of patients with lower GIS bleeding after bowel preparation at their first hospitalization and after discharge.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Patients who were hemodynamically stable after upper GIS bleeding were identified and divided into 2 groups. Colonoscopy was performed in the first group of patients at their first hospitalization. The second group of patients was called again for colonoscopy within 2 weeks after discharge. Patients were classified according to their age, gender, bleeding etiology, whether complete colonoscopy procedure was possible (The cecum was intubated, and the bowel cleansing was sufficient to evaluate the intestinal mucosa), and whether the colonoscopic intervention was performed.

RESULTS

The rate of patients who are hemodynamically stable and require emergency intervention at their first hospitalization is 5%. The colonoscopy repeat rate is 70% for the first hospitalization group, and the patients with no findings despite the second colonoscopy at a rate of 50% are re-evaluated electively.

DISCUSSION

Our study suggests that colonoscopy should be performed in elective conditions after a complete bowel cleansing in hemodynamically stable patients.