Background: Bleeding peptic ulcer (PU) is the commonest cause of an acute upper gastrointestinal bleed. Aim of this study was to present our data regard the management of acute bleeding from PU during urgent endoscopy (examination performed in 2-6 h by the call).
Materials and methods: This study is based on an observational retrospective protocol. Records of 259 consecutive patients with PU (92 F, 167 M; median age 71.5 years; range: 19-100 years), attending our GI Unit from February 1st 2004 to July 31st 2007, were analyzed.
Results: Out of 259 patients with PU, 170 (65.6%) were treated with endoscopic hemostasis followed by medical therapy (PPI 80 mg bolus within 12 h of endoscopy followed by 8 mg/for 72 h and then an oral PPI , 40 mg once daily for 30 days), while 89 (34.4%) patients received only medical therapy (PPI, 40 mg once daily for 30 days). All ulcerative lesions with endoscopic stigmata of acute bleeding, visible vessels or adherent clot (Forrest Ia-IIb) were treated during the gastroscopy. The endoscopic procedures used were: injection of 1:10000 adrenaline (about 10 mL) around the bleeding lesion in 93 cases (55%); injection therapy and thermal method (argon plasma coagulation) in 53 cases (31%); injection therapy and mechanical method (metallic clips) in 20 cases (12%); only mechanical method (metallic clips) in 4 cases (2%). Endoscopic hemostasis was achieved in 251 pts (97%), while 17 pts (6.5%) required second endoscopy for rebleeding. Three patients (1.16%) required immediate surgery for failure of primary endoscopic hemostasis. The mortality within 30 days from the bleeding episode was 3.9% (10 pts).
Conclusions: The treatment of this condition has made important progress since the introduction of emergency endoscopy and endoscopic techniques for hemostasis. The application of specific protocols, significantly decreases rebleeding and the need for surgery, whereas mortality is still high. Our data are in keeping with previous studies of the literature.