AIM: To investigate the conformity of management practices of gastrointestinal hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients with relevant guidelines. METHODS: A questionnaire on the management of digestive bleeding was completed for all consecutive cirrhotic patients admitted to 31 French hospitals. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six bleeding events were recorded. It was the first bleeding episode in 79 patients (63%), of whom 40 (51%) had a prior diagnosis of cirrhosis and 25 (32%) had previously undergone an endoscopy. The bleeding episode was a recurrence in 46 patients (37%). The median time between onset and admission was 4 h, but exceeded 12 h in 42% of cases. There was an agreement between centers for early vasoactive drug administration (87% of cases), association with ligation (42%) more often than sclerosis (21%) at initial endoscopy, and antibiotic prophylaxis (64%). By contrast, prescription of beta-blockade alone or in combination (0 to 100%, P = 0.003) for secondary prophylaxis and lactulose (26% to 86%, P = 0.04), differed among centers. CONCLUSION: In French hospitals, management of bleeding related to portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients is generally in keeping with the consensus. Broad variability still remains concerning beta-blockade use for secondary prophylaxis. Screening for esophageal varices, the use of antibiotic prophylaxis and patients information need to be improved.
AIM: To investigate the conformity of management practices of gastrointestinal hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients with relevant guidelines. METHODS: A questionnaire on the management of digestive bleeding was completed for all consecutive cirrhotic patients admitted to 31 French hospitals. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six bleeding events were recorded. It was the first bleeding episode in 79 patients (63%), of whom 40 (51%) had a prior diagnosis of cirrhosis and 25 (32%) had previously undergone an endoscopy. The bleeding episode was a recurrence in 46 patients (37%). The median time between onset and admission was 4 h, but exceeded 12 h in 42% of cases. There was an agreement between centers for early vasoactive drug administration (87% of cases), association with ligation (42%) more often than sclerosis (21%) at initial endoscopy, and antibiotic prophylaxis (64%). By contrast, prescription of beta-blockade alone or in combination (0 to 100%, P = 0.003) for secondary prophylaxis and lactulose (26% to 86%, P = 0.04), differed among centers. CONCLUSION: In French hospitals, management of bleeding related to portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients is generally in keeping with the consensus. Broad variability still remains concerning beta-blockade use for secondary prophylaxis. Screening for esophageal varices, the use of antibiotic prophylaxis and patients information need to be improved.
Authors: P Czernichow; P Hochain; J B Nousbaum; J M Raymond; A Rudelli; J L Dupas; M Amouretti; H Gouérou; M H Capron; H Herman; R Colin Journal: Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2000-02 Impact factor: 2.566
Authors: Darius Sorbi; Christopher J Gostout; David Peura; David Johnson; Frank Lanza; P Gregory Foutch; Cathy D Schleck; Alan R Zinsmeister Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2003-11 Impact factor: 10.864