Table 1.
General characteristics and treatments of patients presenting an upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB)
| Arrival at the ED n = 170 |
Pre-hospital management n = 24 |
Total n = 194 |
P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (median [Q1–Q3])a | 66 [49–82] | 71 [57.5–75.5] | 66 [51–81] | 0.71 | |
| Sex (men; n, %) | 88 (52) | 17 (71) | 105 (54) | 0.085 | |
| Initial symptoms suggesting UGB, n (%) | Hematemesis | 87 (51) | 17 (71) | 104 (54) | 0.096 |
| Melena | 70 (41) | 5 (21) | 75 (39) | ||
| Hematochezia | 6 (4) | 2 (8) | 8 (4) | ||
| Other | 7 (4) | 0 (0) | 7 (4) | ||
| Medical history and medication, n (%)b | n = 143 | n = 20 | n = 163 | ||
| Known cirrhosis | 31 (22) | 4 (20) | 35 (21) | 1. | |
| Known ulcer | 33 (23) | 5 (25) | 38 (23) | 0.78 | |
| Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs | 10 (7) | 2 (10) | 12 (7) | 0.64 | |
| Antithrombotic agents | 54 (38) | 8 (40) | 62 (38) | 1. | |
| Comorbidity | 57 (40) | 5 (25) | 62 (38) | 0.25 | |
| Exteriorized bleeding in the ED, n (%)c | 86 (51) | 16 (67) | 102 (53) | 0.19 | |
| Clinical features of severity, n (%)d | n = 166 | n = 22 | n = 188 | ||
| Heart rate > 100 bpm | 36 (22) | 12 (55) | 48 (26) | 0.003 | |
| Systolic arterial pressure < 90 mmHg | 27 (16) | 8 (36) | 35 (19) | 0.037 | |
| Marbling | 5 (3) | 3 (14) | 8 (4) | 0.053 | |
| Altered mental status | 5 (3) | 4 (18) | 9 (5) | 0.012 | |
| Hemoglobin level, n (%)e | < 7 g/dL | 34 (20) | 5 (24) | 39 (21) | 0.77 |
| Treatments in ED, n (%) | n = 170 | n = 24 | n = 194 | ||
| Nasogastric tube | 15 (9) | 4 (17) | 19 (10) | 0.26 | |
| Fluid administration | 55 (32) | 12 (50) | 67 (35) | 0.11 | |
| Transfusion | 71 (42) | 1 (4) | 72 (37) | 0.0002 | |
| Proton pump inhibitors | 132 (78) | 8 (33) | 140 (72) | < 0.0001 | |
| Vasopressors | 33 (19) | 3 (13) | 36 (19) | 0.58 | |
| Catecholamines | 2 (1) | 2 (8) | 4 (2) | 0.075 | |
| Antibioticsf (excluding erythromycin) | 8 (5) | --- | --- | --- | |
| Vitamin K antagonist reversal | 18 (11) | 1 (4) | 19 (10) | 0.048 | |
| Erythromycin | 16 (9) | 1 (4) | 17 (9) | 0.70 | |
afor 193 of 194 patients
bfor 163 of 194 patients
cfor 192 of 194 patients
dfor 188 of 194 patients
efor 189 of 194 patients
ffor 170 of 194 patients