Diverticular bleeding: are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs risk factors for hemorrhage and can colonoscopy predict outcome for patients?

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective study was performed to determine if certain endoscopic features of a bleeding diverticulum predict outcome for patients and to assess the role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) as a risk factor for hemorrhage.

METHODS

Over a 28-month period, colonoscopy was performed on 13 patients (mean, age 74 yr) in whom a specific diverticulum was unequivocally identified as a cause for bleeding. Endoscopic features of the affected diverticulum were recorded and correlated with outcome for patients. Drug histories were reviewed to document use of NSAID before bleeding.

RESULTS

Three patients had a visible vessel located inside a diverticulum, and one subject had an adherent clot with active bleeding. These colonoscopic findings were classified as stigmata of significant hemorrhage (SSH). In the remaining nine patients the diverticula were ulcerated. This endoscopic finding was classified as stigmata of insignificant hemorrhage (SIH). Compared with patients with SIH, individuals with SSH experienced a greater number of bleeding episodes (3.5 vs 1.3, p = 0.006), had a lower initial hemoglobin concentration (8.2 vs 12.5 gm%, p = 0.009), and required more transfusions (3.3 vs 0, p = 0.04) and invasive treatments (75% with SSH were managed by endoscopy or surgery vs 0% for those with SIH, p = 0.01). Ninety-two percent of the patients were taking NSAID (100% with SSH and 89% with SIH). Seventy-five percent of subjects with SSH compared with 0% of patients with SIH had a combined exposure to NSAID and ASA (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Presence of a visible vessel or an adherent clot with active bleeding is a reliable marker for significant hemorrhage. Ulcerated diverticula are the cause of trivial bleeding, and presence of this endoscopic finding accurately predicts a benign clinical course. NSAID may be an important risk factor for diverticular bleeding. It is possible that combined exposure to NSAID and ASA results in more severe bleeding compared with use of NSAID alone.