INTRODUCTION Neurocritical care patients are at high risk for stress-related upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the risks and benefits of stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) in this patient group. METHODS A systematic search of major electronic literature databases was conducted. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which re...

We investigated 2668 patients with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding and 660 patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding treated between 1987 and 2011 in our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was associated with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, Mallory-Weiss syndrome, esophageal disease, and others. Endoscopic hemostasis was performed in approximately 67% of all cases with up...

Variceal bleeding is one of the most severe complications of portal hypertension related to liver cirrhosis. Primary prophylaxis is considered mandatory in patients with cirrhosis and high-risk oesophageal varices, and once varices have bled, every effort should be made to arrest the haemorrhage and prevent further bleeding episodes. In acute variceal bleeding, vasoactive drugs that lower porta...

• To use clinical clues to differentiate between upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage • To examine results of vital signs, blood tests, and nasogastric aspirate to assess severity of GI hemorrhage and define immediate resuscitative measures • To define the common causes of GI hemorrhage in the intensive care unit (ICU) • To develop a diagnostic strategy and plan of management • To d...

This article reviews the pharmacology and clinical evidence of the use of dabigatran etexilate (DE) in the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Published data in English language were identified from MEDLINE and Current Content database (1966 to January 30, 2011) using the search terms dabigatran, VTE, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Citations from available a...

BACKGROUND VTE is a common cause of preventable death in surgical patients. METHODS We developed recommendations for thromboprophylaxis in nonorthopedic surgical patients by using systematic methods as described in Methodology for the Development of Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis Guidelines. Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of ...

Acid-suppressive therapy for prophylaxis of stress ulcer bleeding is commonly prescribed for hospitalized patients. Although its use in select, at-risk patients may reduce clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding, the alteration in gastric pH and composition may place these patients at a higher risk of infection. Although any pharmacologic alteration of the gastric pH and composition is...

Low-dose aspirin (75-100 mg/day) is an inexpensive and readily available prophylactic that is well established in the reduction of ischemic heart disease and stroke,1 but its use in healthy subjects is debatable. The perception is that chronic aspirin use instigates gastrointestinal (GI) and cerebral bleeds and that, if everyone began taking low-dose aspirin daily at the onset of middle age, ga...

About 1.5-6 % of the patients with gastric and duodenal erosions admitted to I.C.U. are prone to gastrointestinal (G.I.) bleeding with its ensuing complications. Routine prophylaxis with H2-blockers and anti-acid has been used in these high risk patients for decades.In this study we evaluated the effect of P.O omeprazole, a potent acid inhibitor with prolong effects on gastric pH.  Patients wit...

Portal hypertension is the commonest cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in children and up to 30% of cases with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage can be fatal. Extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) is the commonest cause of portal hypertension in children and also one of the common causes in adults in India and other tropical countries (Arora, 1998; Poddar, 2008; Poddar 2000). In...