Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). However, the frequency of bacterial infection in such patients has remarkably decreased over the decades, which has reduced the necessity for prophylaxis. Therefore, here we investigated the real-world adherence and effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in cirrhotic patients with UGIB in Japan.
This population-based study was conducted with a Japanese real-world database of the Health, Clinic, and Education Information Evaluation Institute. We enrolled cirrhotic patients who were hospitalized for UGIB between April 2010 and March 2020. After those who died within 24 h and who had aspiration pneumonia at admission were excluded, 1232 patients were analyzed. Rates of 6-week mortality, in-hospital bacterial infection, 30-day readmission, and length of hospital stay were evaluated.
Prophylactic antibiotics were prescribed in 142 (11.5%) patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that antibiotic prophylaxis was not significantly associated with either 6-week mortality or bacterial infection. After propensity score matching, the rates of 6-week mortality (7.2% vs. 8.4%, P = 0.810), bacterial infection (9.6% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.082), and 30-day unexpected readmission (7.2% vs. 7.8%, P = 1.000) were similar in patients with and without prophylaxis, whereas the median length of hospital stay was significantly longer in patients with prophylaxis (17 days vs. 13 days, P = 0.013).
Under current real-world circumstances in Japan, prophylactic antibiotics were prescribed in only 11.5% of cirrhotic patients with UGIB and were not associated with better clinical outcomes.

The objective of the study was to compare and observe the therapeutic effect of octreotide and pituitrin in upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by cirrhosis.
In this prospective, randomized, open, single-blind, controlled, and single-center study, patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage induced by cirrhosis were divided into control group (treated with pituitrin) and experimental group (treated with octreotide). The effective time, hemostasis time, and average bleeding volume of the two groups were observed and recorded, and the incidence of adverse reactions, rebleeding rate, and total effective rate of the two groups were compared.
One hundred and thirty-two patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by cirrhosis were included from March 2017 to September 2018. By a single-blind method, the patients were randomly divided into control group (n = 66) and experimental group (n = 66). Compared with the control group, the effective time and hemostasis time of the drug were significantly shorter in the experimental group, whereas the average bleeding volume of patients was lower (average P < 0.05). Compare with the control group, the total effective rate was higher in the experimental group, whereas the incidence of adverse reactions was lower (average P < 0.05). During 1-year follow-up, early and late rebleeding rates and hemorrhage-related mortality between the two groups have no difference (average P > 0.05).
In the treatment of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in cirrhosis, octreotide is superior to pituitrin, with advantages of quick onset, short hemostasis time, and less adverse reactions, which is helpful to control the rebleeding rate and bleeding-related mortality.

Guidelines for the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) are regularly published, yet little is known concerning adherence to recommendations in practice.
We aimed to assess adherence to European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) recommendations in patients with non-variceal UGIB.
All hospitalized patients with an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) performed due to suspected non-variceal UGIB at our department were included in a prospective registry. Data between 2018-2020 from this registry were retrospectively analyzed. Adherence to the 2015 ESGE bleeding and propofol sedation guidelines was assessed. Adherence to recommendations concerning preendoscopic (risk) evaluation, preendoscopic PPI, transfusion management, and endoscopic management of peptic ulcers was analyzed.
Among 1005 patients (mean age 70.4 years, 42.1% women) the most common bleeding etiologies were gastric or duodenal ulcers (16.8%), esophagitis/GERD (11.1%), and angiodysplasia (9.9%); mortality was 7.6%. Adherence to preendosopic risk evaluation was low, in 0% a Mallampati classification and in 37.5% an ASA scoring was documented. Preendoscopic PPI was started at 58.6%, and adherence to recommended transfusion management was >98%. Peptic ulcers were Forrest-graded in 72.8%. High-risk ulcers were treated appropriately in 77.9% and low-risk ulcers were not treated in 73.6%. Especially Forrest Ib ulcers were undertreated, with an adherence of 59.6%. Only 22/179 (12.3%) patients with peptic ulcers and early endoscopy were consistently managed according to ESGE recommendations.
Adherence to ESGE guidelines in patients with non-variceal UGIB is moderate to low, even at a tertiary university hospital. Strategies must be devised for guidelines to reach patients in everyday practice.

OBJECTIVE: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common emergency, with high rates of hospitalization and in-patient mortality compared to other gastrointestinal diseases. Despite readmission rates being a common quality metric, little data are available for UGIBs. This study aimed to determine readmission rates for patients discharged following an UGIB.
METHODS: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science were searched to October 16, 2021. Randomized and non-randomized studies that reported hospital readmission for patients following an UGIB were included. Abstract screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted in duplicate. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed, with statistical heterogeneity measured using I2 . The GRADE framework, with a modified Downs and Black tool, was used to determine certainty of evidence.
RESULTS: Seventy studies were included of 1847 screened abstracted, with moderate interrater reliability. Within these studies, 4 292 714 patients were analyzed with a mean age of 66.6 years, and 54.7% male. UGIB had a 30-day all-cause readmission rate of 17.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 16.7-18.2%), stratification revealed a higher rate for variceal UGIB [19.6% (95% CI 17.6-21.5%)] than non-variceal [16.8% (95% CI 16.0-17.5%)]. Only one third were readmitted due to recurrent UGIB (4.8% [95% CI 3.1-6.4%]). UGIB due to peptic ulcer bleeding had the lowest 30-day readmission rate [6.9% (95% CI 3.8-10.0%)]. Certainty of evidence was low or very low for all outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: Almost one in five patients discharged after an UGIB are readmitted within 30 days. These data should prompt clinicians to reflect on their own practice to identify areas of strength or improvement.

To investigate the therapeutic effect of rabeprazole and rebamipide on patient age over 60 with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT)-related upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 360 patients age over 60 undergoing PCI were recruited for antiplatelet therapy involving a combined treatment of aspirin (100 mg/d) and clopidogrel (75 mg/d). The enrolled patients were divided into 4 groups: the control group, the rabeprazole group, the rebamipide group, and the rabeprazole + rebamipide group. The incidence and severity of any upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were observed 6 months after the operation. The incidence of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the 4 groups was 11.1%, 3.3%, 8.9%, and 1.1%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). On comparing the groups, the differences between the control group and the rabeprazole group, those between the control group and the rabeprazole + rebamipide group, and those between the rebamipide group and the rabeprazole + rebamipide group were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). The severity of the upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the rabeprazole group and the rabeprazole + rebamipide group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The 4 groups exhibited no significant differences in the incidence of MACEs (P > 0.05). For patients age over 60 receiving DAPT following PCI in our study population, treatment with rabeprazole or a combination of rabeprazole and rebamipide could reduce the risk of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, as well as reduce its severity.

Splenic artery aneurysm and splenic artery pseudoaneurysm are rare vascular pathologies. The splenic artery represents the third most common site for intra-abdominal aneurysms. In contrast with true splenic artery aneurysm, splenic artery pseudoaneurysm is typically symptomatic, presenting with a range of symptoms, from abdominal pain to hemodynamic instability due to rupture. However, gastrointestinal hemorrhage is an uncommon complication of splenic artery pseudoaneurysm. We report a case of acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to splenic artery pseudoaneurysm rupture. The patient was successfully treated by endovascular intervention.

Dieulafoy lesion is a rarely seen, superficial vascular lesion of the gastric mucosa that can lead to severe and recurrent bleeding which can be life-threatening. It is characterized by massive hemorrhages that can occur as a result of protrusion of a large artery from a submucosal defect. Endoscopic injection and mechanical and thermal methods are frequently used in traditional treatment. Herein, we presented a 61-year-old women who was admitted with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage owing to Dieulafoy lesion who was successfully treated with over-the-scope clip as the first choice of treatment.

Neuroblastic tumors (NTs) include neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma, and ganglioneuroma (GN). They are very rare in adults. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results identified 144 patients ≥20 years old at diagnosis (6.1%) from 1973 to 2002. GNs account for 14% of all localized NT. Since 1957, a total of four cases of GN of the duodenum have been reported. We report a novel case of GN of the periampullary region in the duodenum in a 41-year-old man presenting with chronic upper gastrointestinal bleed. Given the rarity of GNs in this age group and the nonspecificity of radiological features, this diagnosis is often missed until histopathology is done. This may negatively affect the prognosis of an otherwise well-prognosticated disease.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic mucinous cysadenocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm of pancreas which rarely presents as upper gastrointestinal bleed.
METHODS: A 45-year-old woman presented with history of repeated episodes of melena and abdominal pain. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a growth in the body of the stomach likely to be a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Endoscopic biopsy was inconclusive for GIST or malignancy. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed a well-defined multiloculated cystic lesion (11.8 × 11.1 × 6.4 cm) in the body and tail of the pancreas with involvement of the stomach. Preoperative diagnosis was a cystic neoplasm of the pancreas with tumor ingrowth into the stomach. The patient underwent enbloc resection of the stomach with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. Histopathological examination revealed low grade mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
CONCLUSIONS: Upper gastrointestinal bleed as a manifestation of cystic neoplasms of pancreas are rarely reported. Although some cases of hemoperitoneum were reported due to rupture of tumor; luminal gastrointestinal bleed is even rarer. It may be due to involvement of porto-mesenteric axis with portal hypertension, direct invasion of the gastric wall with ulceration of the gastric mucosa, communication between the tumor and the main pancreatic duct, and from the infiltrating tumor.
CONCLUSIONS: Our case highlights the fact that mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of pancreas rarely can present with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, Moreover, if it is large enough to compress or invade the stomach, endoscopy may misdiagnose it as GIST.

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), also known as \"black esophagus,\" is an entity characterized by the circumferential black appearance of esophageal mucosa, usually associated with hypoperfusion and gastric outlet obstruction. This entity has a reported prevalence of up to 0.2%, affecting predominantly elderly men with multiple comorbidities. Most cases resolve with conservative treatment with no need of surgical intervention. However, the overall prognosis is poor, with mortality reaching one-third of cases due to the patient\'s underlying illness. In this article we present three cases of patients with AEN.