[Prognostic value of the finding of blood/clots in the stomach at the emergency upper endoscopy].

INTRODUCTION

In the setting of upper endoscopy after upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), the presence of blood or clots in the gastric lumen precluding the complete mucosal examination is a frequent finding.

AIMS

To define the prognostic value of this endoscopic finding and the need of a follow-up endoscopy.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 100 consecutive patients with UGIB and the endoscopic finding of blood in the stomach (Group A) and 100 at the same conditions but without this endoscopic finding (Group B). In both groups we compared the bleeding lesions and the presence of clinic, laboratorial and endoscopic signs of severity.

RESULTS

Gastric and duodenal ulcers were the bleeding lesions more frequently identified in both groups. Lesions related to portal hypertension were more frequent in the first than in the second one. There was also a significant association with other endoscopic signs of severe haemorrhage and with the clinical signs of bad prognosis. In the follow-up endoscopy we found new lesions in 46% of the patients in the first group and only in 15% of the second one.

CONCLUSIONS

The endoscopic finding of blood or clots in the stomach should be considered as a bad prognostic sign and lead to a second endoscopy.