Endoscopy 2011; 43(4): 300-306
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1256110
Original article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Urgent endoscopy is associated with lower mortality in high-risk but not low-risk nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

L.  G.  Lim1 , K.  Y.  Ho1 , Y.  H.  Chan2 , P.  L.  Teoh3 , C.  J.  L.  Khor1 , L.  L.  Lim1 , A.  Rajnakova1 , T.  Z.  Ong4 , K.  G.  Yeoh1
  • 1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Health System, Singapore
  • 2Biostatistics Unit, National University Health System, Singapore
  • 3Health Research Services, National University Health System, Singapore
  • 4KPJ Kajang Specialist Hospital, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Further Information

Publication History

submitted 31 March 2010

accepted after revision 5 September 2010

Publication Date:
28 February 2011 (online)

Background and study aims: The role of urgent endoscopy in high-risk nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) performed sooner than the currently recommended 24 h in high-risk patients presenting with NVUGIB is associated with lower all-cause in-hospital mortality.

Methods: All adult patients undergoing EGD for the indications of coffee-grounds vomitus, hematemesis or melena at a university hospital over an 18-month period were enrolled. Patients with variceal and lower gastrointestinal bleeding were excluded. Data were prospectively collected.

Results: A total of 934 patients were included. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for the Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS) was 0.813 for predicting all-cause in-hospital mortality, with a cut-off score of ≥ 12 resulting in 90 % specificity. In low-risk patients with GBS < 12, presentation-to-endoscopy time in those who died and in those who survived was similar. In high-risk patients with GBS of ≥ 12, presentation-to-endoscopy time was significantly longer in those who died than in those who survived. Multivariate analysis of the high-risk cohort showed presentation-to-endoscopy time to be the only factor associated with all-cause in-hospital mortality. For high-risk patients, the AUROC for presentation-to-endoscopy time in predicting all-cause in-hospital mortality was 0.803, with a sensitivity of 100 % at the cut-off time of 13 h. All-cause in-hospital mortality in high-risk patients was significantly higher in those with presentation-to-endoscopy time of > 13 h compared with those undergoing endoscopy in < 13 h from presentation (44 % vs. 0 %; P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Endoscopy within 13 h of presentation was associated with lower mortality in high-risk but not low-risk NVUGIB.

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K. G. YeohMD 

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
University Medicine Cluster
National University Health System

5 Lower Kent Ridge Road
Main Building 1, Level 6
Singapore 119074

Fax: +65-67751518

Email: khay_guan_yeoh@nuhs.edu.sg