title: A meta-analysis and systematic review of prophylactic endoscopic treatments for postpolypectomy bleeding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this meta-analysis and systematic review was to determine whether bleeding prophylaxis benefits patients after colonoscopic polypectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the literature was performed to find prospective randomized controlled trials of postpolypectomy hemorrhage prophylaxis. Studies were selected according to specific criteria and analyzed to generate pooled data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies encompassing 2,595 polyps met the criteria for the meta-analysis. The rate of early bleeding was significantly decreased relative to the control when a single prophylactic technique was used [2.58% vs. 8.15%, OR = 0.34 (95% CI, 0.20-0.58), P < 0.0001]. The use of multiple prophylactic techniques resulted in a lower early postpolypectomy hemorrhage rate compared with the use of a single prophylactic technique [0% vs. 8.41%, OR = 0.12 (95% CI, 0.03-0.47), P = 0.002]. The late bleeding rate did not differ significantly between the monotherapy and control groups [0.61% vs. 1.39%, OR = 0.37 (95% CI, 0.11-1.28), P = 0.12], and the use of combined preventative techniques did not significantly decrease the late postpolypectomy bleeding (PPB) rate compared with use of a single prophylactic method [1.43% vs. 2.05%, OR = 0.70 (95% CI, 0.32-1.55), P = 0.38].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylactic endoscopic treatments are effective at reducing early PPB after colonoscopic polypectomy. However, patients with late PPB may not benefit from bleeding prophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China. lilianyong001@163.com
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Q S
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Qu
mesh_terms: D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017594:Publication Bias; D013997:Time Factors