Question 1
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Varices appeared to be the source of bleeding in 50 to 90 percent of patients with cirrhosis
Question 2
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In patients with cirrhosis, any upper gastrointestinal bleeding associated with hemodynamic changes should be considered to be variceal in origin until proven otherwise.
Question 3
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Early rebleeding – Bleeding that occurs >120 hours but <6 weeks from time zero,
Question 4
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Only 50 percent of patients with variceal hemorrhage stop bleeding spontaneously
Question 5
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Cuando la presión portal pasa de 10 mmHg se incrementa potencialmente el desarrollo de colaterales.
Question 6
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Se define como hipertensión portal un gradiente de presión venosa hepática mayor a 5 mmHg, y el valor de 12 mmHg es un factor de riesgo para predecir hemorragia variceal.
Question 7
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a hepatic venous pressure gradient >20 mmHg is associated with a greater risk of continued or recurrent bleeding
Question 8
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50 percent of all early rebleeding episodes occur within the first 10 days
Question 9
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The risk of bleeding and of death in patients who survive six weeks is similar to that in patients with cirrhosis of equivalent severity who have never bled
Question 10
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Acute bleeding from varices is associated with approximately 15 to 20 percent 30-day mortality
Question 11
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Platelet counts often drop within the first 48 hours after a bleed and may necessitate platelet transfusions if values below 50,000/mm3
Question 12
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Bacterial infections are present in up to 20 percent of patients with cirrhosis who are hospitalized with gastrointestinal bleeding
Question 13
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effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics in patients with cirrhosis hospitalized for bleeding suggest an overall reduction in infectious complications and decreased mortality
Question 14
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A systematic review that included eight placebo-controlled trials with a total of 864 patients found the antibiotics were associated with a significant reduction in mortality (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.95) and bacterial infections (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.51) including bacteremia, pneumonia, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and urinary tract infections
Question 15
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patients with cirrhosis who present with upper GI bleeding (from varices or other causes) should be given prophylactic antibiotics, preferably before endoscopy
Question 16
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fOR PREVENTION OF INFECTIONS, intravenous ceftriaxone (1 g/day for seven days), which was superior to norfloxacin in a randomized controlled trial [
Question 17
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Short-term (maximum seven days) antibiotic prophylaxis should be instituted in any patient with cirrhosis and GI hemorrhage.
Question 18
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Among patients with cirrhosis, varices form at a rate of 5 to 15 percent per year, and one-third of patients with varices will develop variceal hemorrhage
Question 19
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Treatment with endoscopic variceal ligation decreases the risk of rebleeding to approximately 30 percent, and the risk of death to approximately 25 percent.
Question 20
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Endoscopic sclerotherapy is associated with a decrease in the risk of rebleeding to 40 to 50 percent, and a decrease in the risk of death to 30 to 60 percent
Question 21
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Pharmacologic therapy should not be delayed pending confirmation that the source of bleeding is indeed from varices
Question 22
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pharmacologic therapy typically consists of an octreotide bolus (50 mcg intravenous [IV]) followed by a continuous infusion (50 mcg IV per hour).
Question 23
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Terlipressin is administered at an initial dose of 2 mg IV every four hours and can be titrated down to 1 mg IV every four hours once hemorrhage is controlled
Question 24
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Pharmacologic therapy is typically continued for three to five days following cessation of bleeding
Question 25
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The goal should be to perform an upper endoscopy after fluid resuscitation and within 12 hours of presentation
Question 26
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If the bleeding cannot be controlled endoscopically, treatment options include transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement or surgical shunting
Question 27
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terlipressin is the only agent individually shown to reduce mortality
Question 28
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— Vasopressin can achieve initial hemostasis in 60 to 80 percent of patients, but has only marginal effects on early rebleeding episodes and does not improve survival from active variceal hemorrhage [12].
Question 29
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terlipressin is released in a slow and sustained manner, permitting its administration via intermittent injections.
Question 30
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terlipressin has been associated with hyponatremia,
Question 31
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A study comparing the acute hemodynamic effects of terlipressin to octreotide in stable patients with cirrhosis found a sustained effect of terlipressin on portal pressure and blood flow compared with only a transient effect from octreotide
Question 32
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Somatostatin inhibits the release of vasodilator hormones such as glucagon [20], indirectly causing splanchnic vasoconstriction and decreased portal inflow.
Question 33
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the most consistently delocteotride observed is the decrease in collateral flow (azygos flow)
Question 34
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While somatostatin and octreotide help achieve hemostasis and prevent rebleeding, neither has a clearly established benefit on mortality [
Question 35
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A systematic review found that combination therapy with somatostatin or octreotide and endoscopic variceal ligation improved the five-day success rate compared with endoscopic variceal ligation alone