Long-term prognosis of cirrhotics with an upper gastrointestinal bleeding episode: does infection play a role?

Background And Aim: We evaluated the effect of infection on the short- and long-term outcome of cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), in a series of patients not submitted to antibiotic prophylaxis.

Methods: The cirrhotic patients hospitalized for UGIB were prospectively followed up until the last visit, death, or transplantation. A standard screening protocol was used for bacterial infection at admission.

Clinical trial: The effect of somatostatin vs. octreotide in preventing post-endoscopic increase in hepatic venous pressure gradient in cirrhotics with bleeding varices.

Background: Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) increases significantly after endoscopic therapy in patients with bleeding oesophageal varices, which may precipitate further haemorrhage. Whether vasoactive drugs can suppress these changes remains unknown.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of somatostatin when compared with octreotide in preventing the post-endoscopic increase in HVPG during acute bleeding and whether the changes affect outcome.

Impact of capsule endoscopy in obscure small-bowel bleeding: defining strict diagnostic criteria for a favorable outcome.

Background: The most frequent indication for capsule endoscopy is to diagnose the cause of obscure GI bleeding. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of capsule endoscopy on the outcome of patients with GI bleeding of obscure origin.

Methods: Ninety-six patients (53 men, 43 women; mean [standard deviation] age, 60.