A Canadian clinical practice algorithm for the management of patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
OBJECTIVE
To use current evidence-based recommendations to provide a user-friendly clinical algorithm for the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, adapted to the Canadian environment.


METHODS
A multidisciplinary consensus group of 25 participants representing 11 national societies used a seven-step approach to develop recommendations according to accepted standards. Sources of data included narrative and systematic reviews as well as published and new meta-analyses. A small writing subgroup subsequently created the algorithm.


RESULTS
Recommendations emphasize appropriate initial resuscitation of the patient and a multidisciplinary approach to clinical risk stratification that determines the need for early endoscopy. Early endoscopy allows safe and prompt discharge of selected patients classified as low risk. Endoscopic hemostasis is reserved for patients with high-risk endoscopic lesions. Although monotherapy with injection or thermal coagulation is effective, the combination is superior to either treatment alone. High-dose intravenous proton-pump inhibition is recommended in patients who have undergone successful endoscopic therapy. Routine second-look endoscopy is not recommended. Patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to ulcer disease should be tested and treated for Helicobacter pylori infection.


CONCLUSIONS
This algorithm should facilitate appropriate risk stratification, use of endoscopic therapy and the appropriate utilization of proton-pump inhibition to optimize the care of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The algorithm should be customized to the resources of individual medical centres. Its application should be studied with appropriate outcomes recorded and validation performed.
Barkun
Alan
A
Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. alan.barkun@muhc.mcgill.ca
Fallone
Carlo A
CA
Chiba
Naoki
N
Fishman
Marty
M
Flook
Nigel
N
Martin
Janet
J
Rostom
Alaa
A
Taylor
Anthony
A
D000465:Algorithms; D002170:Canada; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016558:Hemostasis, Endoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors