ABSTRACT
Introduction: Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (NVUGIH) often leads to systematic hospitalization and emergency endoscopy. However, in most cases, it does not constitute an immediate life threat. This study aimed to evaluate the Glasgow-Blatchford Score (GBS) in predicting the need for transfusions, and/or endoscopic or surgical treatments. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective monocentric study including 91 patients admitted in the general surgery department of the Hospital La Rabta Tunis for a NVUGIH.Univariate analysis was performed with the Student t-test for continuous variables and with the Chi-square test for categorical variables. For a cut-off point of 9, we calculated the sensibility and the sensitivity of the GBS to predict the need for transfusions and/or hemostatic procedure. Results: During the study period, 91 patients were admitted for NVUGIH. Sixty-one patients (67%) were transfused. Seven patients (7.7%) underwent emergency surgery and two patients had endoscopic hemostasis.The predictive factors for the use of transfusion and/or hemostasic treatments were: Age >50 years, ASA score, HR ≥ 90 bpm, pallor, Hb ≤ 9,5 g/dl, Urea ≥9,7 mmol/L.For a cut-off of 9 points of the GBS, sensitivity was 85.71% and specificity 92.86%. The positive predictive value was 96%. The negative predictive value was 74%. Conclusion: The main interest of the GBS lies in dispatching the patients between intensive care units for therapeutic intervention (if GBS> = 9) and ordinary hospitalization for surveillance (if GBS <9). It then makes it possible to rationalize the management of patients with digestive hemorrhage to identify those requiring hospital treatments (transfusion, endoscopic treatment, or surgery).
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Anti-TNFα associated to seton drainage has a central role in the treatment of complex perineal Crohn's fistulas (PAF). A precise treatment protocol is lacking. AIMS: to evaluate the results of this combined treatment and identify predictive factors of response. METHODS: It was a retrospective study which included all patients with complex PAF treated with Anti-TNFα. RESULTS: We included 49 patients, mean age of 31.6 years. 17 patients had an active rectal involvement. 35 patients had azathioprin. After the induction, 43 patients had a clinical response. Maintenance therapy was started in 45 cases. After a median of 19 months of Anti-TNFα, 24 patients had a clinical remission (with radiological remission in 20), 17 a partial clinical response, and 4 were in failure. After clinico-radiologic remission setons were removed in all patients, 46% of patients who stopped Anti-TNFα treatment after clinico-radiologic remission relapsed. Absence of rectal involvement and Clinical remission after induction were the independent predictive factors of achieving a clinical remission under maintenance therapy with Anti-TNFα (p=0.016) and clinico-radiological remission (p=0.028). CONCLUSION: An Anti-TNFα based treatment combined with long term loose seton drainage have contributed to the high rates of both clinical and radiological responses in this study. Obtaining a "deep" clinico-radiological remission should be the target of the treatment. Stopping the Anti-TNFα should be avoided even after obtaining such response.
