View clinical trials related to Ulcer Bleeding.
Filter by:Non-variceal acute gastrointestinal bleeding is a common and potentially life-threatening problem. The conventional treatment of this condition is for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) for haemostasis. Treatment methods include heater probe, clipping and injection of adrenaline. Recently, a new device called the Over-the-scope clip (OTSC) has been device to treat perforations and bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the aim of the study is to compare between the treatment outcomes between OTSC and conventional endoscopic haemostatic methods in ulcers that are of high risk for rebleeding.
Bleeding peptic ulcer is a common medical emergency. Endoscopic treatment stops bleeding in those actively bleeding from their peptic ulcers, reduces further bleeding, transfusion, surgery and deaths. After initial endoscopic control of bleeding, approximately 10% of them will develop recurrent bleeding. Mortality rate in this group of patients is at least 4 fold higher. In the few who need surgery, mortality approaches 30%. Prevention of further bleeding is therefore a major treatment objective. Currently the investigators use a high dose infusion of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for 72 hours to render gastric pH neutral. In a previous randomized trial, the investigators showed that the rate of bleeding in 30 days was around 7% with such an approach. In a small subgroup of high risk patients defined by presentation with shock and ulcers > 2 cm in size, 1 in 6 would re-bleed. An alternate strategy is to select those at especially high risk of further bleeding and repeat endoscopic treatment the next morning. The investigators have shown that persistence of major bleeding stigmata, i.e. a visible vessel, during a second endoscopy predicts further bleeding. It is therefore logical that by repeating endoscopic treatment the next morning, the investigators can prevent further bleeding and possibly surgery and deaths. The current study proposes to develop a score to identify those at risk of further bleeding after endoscopy. The investigators used a historical cohort with carefully collected clinical data to derive a risk score. In this derivation phase of 939 patients, the investigators have developed a 9 point risk score which consists of the following parameters (Age>60, Male sex, ulcer>2cm, posterior bulbar in location, spurting or Forrest Ia bleeding and admission hemoglobin of < 8 g/dl). Using AUROC and Youden J statistics, a score of 5 or above has been shown to highly predictive of further bleeding. The score will then be validated in a prospective cohort of patients with bleeding peptic ulcers. In the final phase of this study, the investigators propose a randomized controlled trial to test the hypothesis that a second look endoscopy with treatment in selected high risk patients can further reduce bleeding and improve their outcomes. After endoscopic hemostasis to their bleeding peptic ulcers, patients are risk stratified based on the score. Those with a score of 5 or more are randomized to receive the standard treatment (a high dose PPI infusion) or a second look endoscopy with treatment in addition to PPI infusion. The primary outcome to the trial is further significant clinical bleeding.
Low-dose aspirin is the mainstay of treatment for patients with coronary heart disease and stroke. However, low-dose aspirin increases the risk of ulcer bleeding. Current evidence indicates that 80 - 100 mg of aspirin daily provides good protection against vascular events and the risk of ulcer bleeding is low (about 1% per year). Since the overall risk of bleeding is low, aspirin users who do not have previous ulcer disease do not require prophylaxis with anti-ulcer drugs. In contrast, aspirin users with a history of ulcer disease have a 2- to 4-fold increased risk of ulcer bleeding. The best strategy for reducing the risk of bleeding in high-risk aspirin users remains unclear. Current strategies for high-risk patients include the use of anti-ulcer drugs, elimination of risk factors (e.g. Helicobacter pylori), or the use of enteric-coated aspirin. Although co-therapy of aspirin with an acid suppressant reduces the risk of ulcer bleeding, drug compliance may limit its clinical usefulness particularly in patients who are already receiving multiple drugs. The efficacy of enteric-coated aspirin in preventing ulcer complications showed conflicting results. One study found that enteric-coated aspirin increases the risk of ulcer bleeding. A recent study showed that enteric-coated aspirin causes minimal acute gastric injury. The investigators postulated that among patients without H. pylori infection and a history of ulcer bleeding who continue to use low-dose aspirin, enteric-coated aspirin reduces the long-term risk of ulcer complications to a level that is comparable to that of average-risk aspirin users.