Approach to Upper Approach to Upper Gastrointestinal BleedingGastrointestinal Bleeding

Ryan D. Madanick, MDRyan D. Madanick, MDAssistant Professor of MedicineAssistant Professor of Medicine

Director, UNC GI/Hepatology FellowshipDirector, UNC GI/Hepatology FellowshipDivision of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

or…or…What to do when the nurse starts panickingWhat to do when the nurse starts panicking

The 3:00 AM BleedThe 3:00 AM Bleed

You are the covering intern for Med U. The nurse from 8 Bedtower calls you to say that Mrs. Johnson has just vomited blood.

The nurse is panicking because she doesn’t like GI bleeds.

The 3:00 AM BleedThe 3:00 AM Bleed

Do you:

A. Say “Thanks,” and hang up the phone

B. Tell her that you’re not covering Mrs. Johnson

C. Call the resident or fellow cause you have no idea what to do

D. Tell her you’ll be right there (after you’ve made a quick telephone assessment)

The 3:00 AM BleedThe 3:00 AM Bleed

Your answer should no longer be:C. Call your resident cause you have no

idea what to do

You should have said:D. Tell her you’ll be right there (after you’ve

made a quick telephone assessment)

Management of UGI BleedingManagement of UGI Bleeding

• Step 1: The Telephone Game

• Step 2: At The Bedside (the makeshift ER)

• Step 3: Calling for Reinforcement

Based on this case, we will discuss the acute management of GI bleeding. You should learn about:

Step One:Step One:The Telephone GameThe Telephone Game

The Telephone GameThe Telephone Game

What do you need to know first?

• Vital signs

• Appearance (diaphoretic?)

• Amount of bleeding

• Anticoagulants?

The Telephone GameThe Telephone Game

BP: 95/45P: 120Pulse ox: 93% on room air

You find out that she has just vomited about 250 cc of coffee-ground material. She is somewhat uncomfortable and diaphoretic. She is hospitalized for unstable angina and is on heparin and aspirin.

The Telephone GameThe Telephone Game

• Start 2 large bore IV’s

• Draw STAT labs

• Nasogastric tube to bedside

• Consider: fluids, PPI, octreotide

• Hold anticoagulants

• “I’ll be right there”

What should you tell the nurse?

Step Two:Step Two: At The Bedside At The Bedside

(the makeshift ER)(the makeshift ER)

“While usual medical teaching focuses around the importance of an accurate history and physical, the clinical status of the patient may make rapid intervention more important than a prolonged interview and examination.”

At The Bedside At The Bedside (the makeshift ER)(the makeshift ER)

• Do a quick survey (ie, ABC’s, general)

• Quick history and physical Cardiovascular/pulmonary status (TILT?) Abdominal exam Rectal

• START TREATING THE PATIENT

What do you do now?

At The Bedside At The Bedside (the makeshift ER)(the makeshift ER)

Your rapid assessment:• Appears somewhat uncomfortable and

diaphoretic• Responsive and breathing normally• Tachycardic with a thready pulse• Mild epigastric tenderness with

normoactive bowel sounds• Not actively bleeding or passing melena

At The Bedside At The Bedside (the makeshift ER)(the makeshift ER)

• Volume resuscitation

• Place nasogastric tube

• Lavage the stomach

• Correct coagulopathy

What intervention should you do now?

At The Bedside At The Bedside (the makeshift ER)(the makeshift ER)

You decide to start normal saline wide open. You successfully pass the nasogastric tube and lavage with saline. The gastric contents contain clots and coffee-ground material. After a liter the lavage begins to clear and eventually you withdraw bile. The tube is pulled.

At The Bedside At The Bedside (the makeshift ER)(the makeshift ER)

• Hypovolemic shock

• Certain etiologies: Varices Vascular-enteric fistula

What are some major concerns?

CALL SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY

At The Bedside At The Bedside (the makeshift ER)(the makeshift ER)

Step Three:Step Three:Calling for ReinforcementCalling for Reinforcement

Calling for ReinforcementCalling for Reinforcement

• Call someone (resident, unit team, GI, surgeon)

• Assess bleeding activity• Review data (chart, H&P, labs)• Order (and follow) serial H/H• Consider diagnostic studies

What more needs to be done?

Calling for ReinforcementCalling for Reinforcement

You see that her admission hemoglobin was 10.5 g/dL and her STAT result is 9.9 g/dL. Her chart review reveals that she is 65 and healthy, but presented two days ago with unstable angina. Her cardiopulmonary and renal function is relatively normal. You decide to continue NS at 150 cc/hour, and you order H/H q6h. Her BP is now 128/80 and pulse is 90. She feels much better and thanks you.

Calling for ReinforcementCalling for Reinforcement

You call the GI fellow, who applauds you for managing the situation well. He schedules her for an EGD in the morning.

You ask the fellow: “Shouldn’t she be scoped NOW? Should we get a bleeding scan or angiogram?”

Calling for ReinforcementCalling for Reinforcement

The fellow explains that since the bleeding has stopped (probably), angiography and nuclear scintigraphy are unlikely to be positive.

Endoscopy can now be safely delayed until morning, since the patient has been adequately stabilized.