Effects of gastrointestinal endoscopy at different time points on diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis

Introduction: Liver cirrhosis is a common diffuse and persistent liver disease in the gastroenterology department. Aim: To assess the effects of gastrointestinal endoscopy at different time points on the diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in patients with liver cirrhosis. Material and methods: The clinical data of 102 liver cirrhosis patients with UGIB admitted from July 2020 to May 2022 were retrospectively analysed. According to the timing of the first gastroscopy after hospitalization, the patients were divided into 4 groups: Group A (n = 25, gastroscopy performed within 12 h of the first bleeding), Group B (n = 29, gastroscopy performed within 12-48 h of the first bleeding), Group C (n = 25, elective gastroscopy performed > 48 h after the first bleeding), and Group D (n = 23, emergency gastroscopy was conducted due to active bleeding manifestations after failure of medication). Results: The success rate of haemostasis in Group A was higher than in Groups B-D (p < 0.05). The early rebleeding rates of the 4 groups were similar (p > 0.05). After treatment, the levels of serum malondialdehyde and lipid hydrogen peroxide declined but the levels of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase rose in all groups compared to those immediately after hospitalization (p < 0.05), and these indicators were improved more significantly in Group A (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Gastroscopy performed within 12 h of the first bleeding is more conducive to improving the haemostatic effect and thus shortening the length of hospital stay.