Early Endoscopy Critical in Both Variceal and Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

Failure to receive endoscopy within 1 day of admission was associated with increased mortality risk.

Acute variceal hemorrhage (VH) is less common than acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) but is associated with higher mortality. Investigators reviewed data from the U.S. Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify factors, including time to endoscopy, that influence mortality risk with each type of bleeding.

Using data from 2002 to 2007, the researchers identified 435,765 patients with UGIB and 35,747 with VH. Approximately 40% of the patients with UGIB received endoscopy within 1 day of admission, compared with 63% of those with VH. In both groups of patients, inpatient mortality was lower among those who received endoscopy within 1 day of admission than among those who did not (8% vs. 15% for VH patients; 3% vs. 7% for UGI…

Reviewing Author

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose