Hospital care of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding: 1991 versus 1981.

Developments important to the care of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding occurred in the 1980s. We compared the features, care, and outcome of patients hospitalized with acute nonvariceal UGI bleeding in 1991 (n = 216) and 1981 (n = 105). Most patient characteristics and the hemoglobin values were similar. Final diagnoses differed, mainly because there were more peptic ulcers and fewer unknown diagnoses in 1991. More patients had endoscopy in 1991 (94%); 92% of endoscoped patients had the procedure within 24 h of admission. The hospital stay of patients without surgery or comorbidity in 1991 was 2.8 +/- 0.1 days, significantly shorter than that in 1981. In 1991 only one half of patients received blood transfusion. The hemoglobin values before transfusion (7.2 +/- 0.1 g%) and at discharge (9.8 +/- 0.1 g%) were lower in 1991; transfused patients received similar amounts of blood in the 2 years. Endoscopic hemostatic therapy was used in 25% of patients with ulcers in 1991 and in none in 1981. Rates of rebleeding (including patients readmitted for recurrent bleeding within 1 week of discharge) and surgery were similar. Mortality was 2.8% in 1991, similar to the 1981 death rate. Because of the excellent 1991 patient outcome, we continue to care for most patients with acute nonvariceal UGI bleeding with urgent endoscopy and short hospitalization.