Pediatric upper gastrointestinal bleeding in children: etiology and treatment approaches

Objective: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB) is one of the most important and serious cause of emergency admission in childhood. The aim of the study was to evaluate the etiological factors and the treatment approaches in patients with UGB.Methods: In this retrospective study, children with UGB admitted to emergency clinics of Istanbul Health Sciences University Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul Bakirkoy Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital and Diyarbakir Children’s Hospital were evaluated between January ۲۰۱۴ and August ۲۰۱۷.Results: Of the ۱۹۸ children, ۱۴.۶% had non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) history, and ۱۲.۶% had chronic liver disease. We detected esophagitis, esophagus varices and peptic ulcer with upper gastrointestinal endoscopic evaluation (۴۷%, ۱۱.۱%, ۱۸.۱%, respectively). Helicobacter pylori was found in ۶۱.۶% of patients. Endoscopic therapeutic procedures (band ligation therapy, sclerotherapy, and adrenaline injection) were appied in ۱۱.۱% of patients. Eighty-four (۴۲.۴%) patients were hospitalized, and erythrocyte transfusion (ET) was ordered in ۲۹ (۱۴.۶%) patients.Conclusion: Approximately in ۲۰% of the pediatric patients, the source of gastrointestinal bleeding is the upper gastrointestinal system. The cause of UGB varies with age. Appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are very important for management and to reduce mortality.

کلیدواژه ها:

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding ، etiology ، treatment ، Child