Prevention of gastric ulcer or acute gastric mucosal lesions accompanying bleeding after abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery

[Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with stable coronary artery disease (registry of antithrombotic therapy "REGATТA" results)]

INTRODUCTION

Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding is a common complication of antiplatelet therapy. Data from real clinical practice that characterize the range of risk factors for UGI bleeding, prophylactic proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) therapy, bleeding frequency and their long-term effects in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) are limited.

AIM

To identify predictors of UGI bleeding in patients with stable CAD, to assess the role of PPI in the prevention of bleeding and the long-term prognosis of patients after bleeding.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

934 patients with stable CAD (median age 61 [5368] years, 78.6% men) were included in the single institution prospective REGistry of Long-term AnTithrombotic TherApy (REGATTA). Atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries (APA) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening was performed by doctor decision, as well as esophagogastroduodenoscopy. 76% of patients received dual antiplatelet therapy for 612 months after elective PCI. PPIs were prescribed in 28.3% of cases.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 2.5 [1.15.1] years. The frequency of overt UGI bleeding was 1.9 per 100 patients per year. Anamnesis of peptic ulcer disease (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.911.8;p=0.001), erosion of the upper gastrointestinal tract (OR 6.7; 2.716.6;p=0.00004 ), as well as concomitant diseases associated with a decrease in blood supply to the mucosa, such as heart failure HF (OR 6.1; 2.316.0;p=0.0002), AAA (OR 9.3; 2.534.2;p=0.0008) and APA (OR 2.3; 0.985.5;p=0.05) turned out to be independent predictors of UGI bleeding. The frequency of AAA among those who underwent UGI bleeding was 19.6% (in patients without bleeding 1.4%;p0.001). 90.2% of patients with UGI bleeding received PPI; the frequency of UGI bleeding in patients receiving pantoprazole and omeprazole did not differ significantly. After UGI bleeding, rebleeding rate was 7.8%, thrombotic events (TE) rate 31.4%, mortality rate 17.7% for 30 days, 19.4% for 1 year and 35.3% for the entire observation period. The predictors of deaths were AAA (OR 92.5; 7.7107.9;p0.0001), APA (OR 4.2; 1.0317.2;p=0.045) and HF (OR 34.5; 8.5140.6;p0.0001). The worst prognosis was expected for patients who underwent UGI bleeding and thrombotic events: 2/3 of these patients died.

CONCLUSION

In a prospective analysis of patients with stable CAD, we identified UGI bleeding was a significant risk factor for late thromboembolism and death, compared with patients without bleeding. Predictors of UGI bleeding and poor prognosis are factors that indicate atherothrombotic burden abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral atherosclerosis and HF. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04347200.

Effect of acid secretion blockade on acute gastric mucosal lesions induced by Tityus serrulatus scorpion toxin in anaesthetized rats

Scorpion venom (TX) promotes gastric acid and pepsin secretion leading to acute gastric mucosal lesions (AGML), when injected in animals. The goal of the present study was to observe the effects of acid gastric secretion blockers over the incidence of TX-induced AGML in vivo. To verify this model, we used male albino rats, fasted 18-20 h (n=122) and anaesthetized with urethane (1.4 g/kg, i.p.). Their trachea and left femoral vein were both cannulated; the first to avoid airway obstructions during scorpion intoxication and the second for administration of saline, TX and acid blockers. Following the surgical procedure, the animals were divided in 10 groups of at least 10 animals each. Control groups were injected with NaCl 0.9% 1 ml/kg (n=10) or TX 375 microg/kg (n=32). Test groups (n=10, each) received atropine 5 mg/kg, cimetidine 10mg/kg, ranitidine 2.5mg/kg, ranitidine 5mg/kg, omeprazol 1 mg/kg, omeprazol 4 mg/kg, octreotide 80 and octreotide 100 microg/kg 10 min before the TX was injected. After 1h of intoxication, the stomach was resected for macroscopic study and the gastric secretion was collected for volume, pH and acid output assessment. We observed that all blockers were able to completely or partially prevent the TX-induced acid secretion as well as the AGML (p<0.05). Our data suggest the TX-induced AGML can be prevented by different class of acid blockers injected before the intoxication.

Gastrointestinal complications after aortic surgery

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A major gastrointestinal complication (GIC) after aortic surgery may be disastrous, but these complications have received scant attention. This study was performed to determine the risk factors, associated events, and outcomes for patients with GIC.

METHODS

We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective study that examined 120 consecutive patients who underwent transperitoneal aortic revascularization for aneurysmal or occlusive disease.

RESULTS

The following 29 GICs developed in 25 patients (21%) within 30 days of aortic surgery: paralytic ileus that required replacement of nasogastric tubes (n = 12), upper gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 5), Clostridium difficile enterocolitis (n = 5), acute cholecystitis (n = 2), mechanical obstruction (n = 2), ascites (n = 2), and colon ischemia (n = 1). Seven patients required operations for GICs after aortic revascularization. A comparison of patients with and without GICs showed no differences in the prevalence of risk factors, presence of mesenteric artery stenoses, coexisting medical illnesses, antecedent gastrointestinal history, operative indication, preoperative fluid administration, or duration of operation. However, patients with GICs had more intraoperative complications (P = .004), greater intraoperative blood loss (P = .02), and more fluids during the postoperative period (P = .008). The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 71 +/- 23 hours for patients with GICs versus 7 +/- 2 hours for patients without GICs (P = .006). A higher prevalence of pulmonary (P = .004) and renal (P = .001) complications was seen in the patients with GICs. The mean stay in the intensive care unit was 16 +/- 2 days for patients with GICs as compared with 5 +/- 0.4 days for patients without GICs (P < .001). Four deaths occurred, all caused by multisystem organ failure: 3 patients had GICs, and 1 did not have a GIC (P = .007).

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that GICs are prevalent in transperitoneal aortic surgery and are associated with severe morbidity rates, increased hospital costs because of prolonged stay, and increased mortality rates. Some GICs appear to be associated with intraoperative events that lead to visceral hypoperfusion, and others can be attributed to mechanical causes. However, none of the variables examined in this study were predictive of GICs. In all, GICs should be considered serious adverse sequela after aortic revascularization. Because no risk factors for GICs have been identified, these complications currently cannot be prevented.