ryan o’gowan, mba, pa-c fapacvs fccm st. vincent hospital, worcester, ma

AN APPROACH TO GI BLEEDING IN THE CARDIAC SURGERY PATIENT

Ryan O’Gowan, MBA, PA-CFAPACVS

FCCM

St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, MA

DISCLOSURES

I have no financial relationships with any drug or device manufacturers to disclose.

OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this lecture the participant should be able to:

Describe the pathology and pathophysiology of the patient with upper and lower GI bleeding.

Outline the approach to diagnosing and treating GI bleeding, as well as clinical management.

Describe pitfalls or circumstances unique to the cardiac surgery population, as well as the literature pertaining to this population.

PATIENT SCENARIO 1

A 68 year old cardiac surgery patient who is POD #3 presents with intractable nausea and vomiting on the telemetry unit. The patient develops pronounced hematemesis.

Vital signs: HR 120, AF. SBP 88/60 laying flat; 78/58 sitting upright. Urine output 60cc in the last 4 hours. He is unable to stand secondary to dizziness. Respiratory rate 35, O2 Sat 89% 6LNC.

PERSPECTIVES ON MANAGEMENT

PATIENT SCENARIO 1

Of note, the patient is an AVR with mechanical valve, has begun anticoagulation with coumadin, and has been on Amiodarone for AF.

Pre-op, the patient had an uncomplicated UTI treated with Levofloxacin.

What is your next step in managing this patient?

APPROACH TO GI BLEEDING-SHOCK

American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma- ATLS Course Guidebook

NEXT STEPS IN MANAGEMENT

Remember CAB:

Circulation: IV Access, Crystalloid vs. Colloid Resuscitation, Central line & pressors if appropriate.

Airway: Level of consciousness, airway assessment.

Breathing: Use of accessory muscles, respiratory rate.

LOCALIZING THE SITE OF BLEEDING

Not all bleeding is created alike:

Above the Ligament of Treitz-

Hematemesis Melena

Below the Ligament of Treitz-

Hematochezia

INITIAL MANAGEMENT

NGT/OGT: caution in patients with known varices. +/- ice water lavage with 250cc.

Consider Sengstaken-Blakemore tube in patients with Variceal bleeding.

Laboratory Studies; CBC, Coags, Lactate q6-8h. Consider Serial ABGs (as base deficit may signify degree of bleeding).

Fluid Resuscitation with blood/factor transfusions.

INITIAL MANAGEMENT

CALCULATING THE EXTENT OF BLEEDINGBlood Loss Determination:

1.) Estimate Normal Blood Volume: 66ml/kg (♂) or 60ml/kg (♀)

2.) Estimate % loss of Blood Volume: Class 1: < 15% Class 2: 15-30% Class 3: 30-40% Class 4: >40%

3.) Calculate the Volume Deficit (VD): VD= Blood Volume (BV) x Percent Loss.

4.) Determine the Resuscitation Volume: VD x 1.5 for Colloids or VD x 4 for Crystalloids.

The ICU Book, 3rd Edition. Marino, et. Al.

PHARMACOLOGIC ADJUNCTS

IV Proton Pump Inhibitors: IV Omeprazole 20mg q12h. Omeprazole infusion 8mg/hr.

Somatotatins: Octreotide: Bolus of 25-50mcg followed by

infusion of 25-50mcg/hr x 48 hours. (indicated for variceal bleeding or as an adjunct when endoscopy is not immediately available)

PHARMACOLOGIC ADJUNCTS-SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Empiric Antibiotic therapy: Indicated for cirrhotic patients, as bacterial

translocation may occur secondary to immunocompromise.

Tranexamic Acid: Recent studies did not show benefit of

Tranexamic Acid for GI bleeding over placebo.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF UGI BLEEDING

Barret’s esophagus Esophageal cancer Esophagitis Gastric Cancer Gastric Ulcer Gastrinoma Mallory Weiss Tears Variceal Disease

PATIENT SCENARIO 1-CONTINUED

Initial labs showed a drop in the HCT to 19.9 with an INR of 3.9. Lactate was 3.1. ABG was 7.19/32/82/18 with a base deficit of -4.

The patient was intubated, was given 3 units RBCs and 2 units FFP. An arterial line was placed, and the patient was started on pressors. GI/General Surgery were consulted and the patient was started on IV pantoprazole and Octreotide.

DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION

Endoscopy: Approach is determined by if bleeding is upper vs. lower.UGI can be therapeutic and diagnostic-

Electrocautery Banding of varices Injection of bleeding vessels with Epinephrine

CTA has an evolving role in diagnosing GI Bleeding, and may have increased utility in detecting small bowel bleeding sites.

(World J Gastroenterol. 2010 August 21; 16(31): 3957–3963.)

UGI-ELECTROCAUTERY

UGI-VARICEAL BANDING


UGI Endoscopy identified a small bleeding ulceration which was cauterized.

The patient continued to be transfused with RBCs and FFP. He failed to respond appropriately, as his HCT came up to 23.8, after a total of 4 Units.

The SBP went up to 180 systolic with an episode of ventilator asynchrony, and 300cc of bright red blood was suctioned out his OGT.

DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION

Angiography and angioembolization: Surpassing Tagged RBC scan-

Greater Utility, may also be useful in evaluating Mesenteric Ischemia if abdominal pain with elevated lactate.

Tagged RBC Scan Requires a large volume of active blood loss to be

read as positive.

Always weigh the utility of various studies, as some may be both diagnostic and therapeutic.

POSITIVE TAGGED RBC SCAN

POSITIVE ANGIOGRAPHIC STUDY


The patient underwent angioembolization, of a bleeding branch of the gastro-duodenal artery, which was localized secondarily after his varices were banded.

He was stabilized, had his Warfarin restarted, and was later referred to a specialized center for a TIPS procedure to definitively control his portal hypertension and varices.

PATIENT SCENARIO 2

A 67 year old female S/P bare metal stenting presents with recurrent angina. She has been loaded with Plavix 300mg and has developed hematochezia. She has an IABP in place and is pre-op for CABG.

HCT is 24.7, INR is 1.2, PLT 94,000. PRU (P2Y12 assay) shows 80% inhibition.

IDENTIFICATION OF LOWER GI BLEEDING Physical Exam is the first step. External hemorrhoids are often

overlooked. LLQ pain may be indicative of

diverticulitis, another common cause.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS- LGI BLEEDING External Hemorrhoids Colonic polyps Diverticulitis Colitis (Ischemic, Ulcerative, Crohn’s) Infectious Diarrhea (E.Coli H7:0157,

Shiga toxin, Salmonella) Anal Fissures Neoplasm/Radiation Proctitis


The patient is stabilized, receives OPCAB x 3, and remains with IABP in place post op.

On POD 2, her HCT falls to 21.3 and PLT to 55,000. She develops abdominal pain and is presently NPO. Lactate is 4.1, Creatinine is 1.7.

What is your next priority?

COLONOSCOPY- ISCHEMIC SIGMOID COLITIS

RESUSCITATION

Patient’s with reduced Ejection Fractions who are not intubated may require more restrictive transfusion strategies.

The TRICC trial excluded patients with ACS and maintains a transfusion target HCT of 30.

Reduced splanchnic flow to the kidneys and mesentery warrant increased suspicion of renal failure and mesenteric ischemia.


The patient is given 3 units PRBCs and 6 units Platelets- LGI bleeding continues.

CXR reveals IABP with the tip migrated just above the renal arteries; it is repositioned and the tip is now at 4th ICS.

Judicious fluid resuscitation is an important element of care as the patients EF is 30%; she receives 20mg IV Lasix between the 2nd and 3rd unit of RBCs.

LGI ALGORITHM

PHARMACOLOGIC ADJUNCTS

Nexium and Octreotide have been validated, but mainly in UGI bleeding, they are class B/C in LGI bleeding.

If patients are receiving anticoagulants, Risk/Benefit must be carefully weighed before using their respective antidotes.

Sucralfate enemas have been shown to reduce rebleeding in patients with radiation proctitis.


The patient is stabilized from a cardiac perspective, but continues to pass bloody stools.

Lactate remains elevated at 3.4, and HCT does not respond appropriately to an additional 3 units RBCs- it remains low at 22.1.

What are additional strategies that can be employed prior to GI surgery?

IMA ANGIOGRAPHY

SUPERSELECTIVE ANGIOEMBOLIZATION


The patient is taken to IR for superselective angioembolization.

Bleeding is stabilized temporarily, but the patient rebleeds.

She receives another 2 units RBCs (total in last 24 hours is 8 units).

EMERGENT SURGERY

She is taken to the OR for sigmoid colectomy and colostomy and does well post op.

Although angiograhic embolization did not stop the bleeding, the surgeon was able to localize the site more expeditiously and provide a more definitive resection.

POST OPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS

In patients with primary re-anastamosis vs colostomy, the suture line may dehisce.

Sepsis/Intra-abdominal abscess may present ~ POD 5, if fecal spillage occurs intra-op (peritonitis)

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome Renal Failure Respiratory Failure

CARDIAC SURGERY LITERATURE REVIEW Two of the biggest series on GI

complications in cardiac surgery come from the Texas Heart Institute Journal in 2000 and 2003.

The first is retrospective, the follow up paper is prospective.

CARDIAC SURGERY LITERATURE REVIEW N=4,463 patients; Retrospective

Analysis. 113 GI Diagnoses in 86 patients. Prevalence 1.9%, Mortality 30%.

Risk Factors: Age >70 Duration of CPB Need for Blood transfusions Reoperation Triple Vessel CAD PVD NYHA Class IV CHF Use of IABP/Inotropic Support post operatively(Tex Heart Inst J 2000;27:93-9)

CARDIAC SURGERY LITERATURE REVIEW N=11,058 patients; Prospective

Analysis. Prevalence 1.2%, Mortality 22.5%

Complications: UGI Hemorrhage (28.6%) Gastroesophagitis (12.2%) Intestinal Ischemia (11.5%) Mixed Gastrointestinal complications (9.5%) Pancreatitis (8.8%) Cholecystitis (6.8%) Perforated Peptic Ulcer (4.7%)

(Tex Heart Inst J 2003;30:280-5)

CARDIAC SURGERY LITERATURE REVIEW The cohort from the second study

included CABG, Valve, Combination surgery, and Adult Congenital patients.

Multivariate Analysis showed six independent predictors: Prolonged mechanical ventilation Postoperative renal failure Preoperative renal failure Sepsis Sternal wound infection Valve surgery

(Tex Heart Inst J 2003;30:280-5)

GI LITERATURE REVIEW

Meta-analysis of 200 articles from 1966-2004. Evidence Graded A, B, or C.

Incidence for LGI bleeds = 0.03% and for UGI bleeds ~1.5-3%.

For coffee ground emesis and heme (+), NG aspirate- UGI should be performed when a concomitant LGI bleed is present.

For UGI bleeds, TC-99 scanning can detect bleeding rates of 0.1ml/min; however-active bleeding is required for an effective test.

It may be prudent to electively intubate patients prior to UGI endoscopy.

(Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2005;21:1281-1298)


For LGI bleeds, unless emergent, a bowel prep should take place. Non-prepped bowels increase the risk of colonic perforation of the endoscope.

It may be prudent to electively intubate patients prior to UGI endoscopy.

For LGI bleeding, angiography may be therapeutic and diagnostic, but requires bleeding rates of ~1ml/min.

Diverticular bleeds and angiodysplasia account for 50-80% of bleeding when the SMA is the bowel source.

Vasopressin infusions may control 91% of these sources (Grade B), but 50% rebleed upon cessation of the drip.



Transcatheter embolization using alcohol or microcoils reduces bleeding by 44-91%, however 7-40% with angiodysplasia required emergency surgery for failure or rebleed.

When angiography is successful in localizing the site, limited resection has a lower morbidity than surgery in historic controls without angiographic localization (8.6% vs 37%-Grade B).

Surgery is required when: hemodynamic instability persists, patients require >6 units RBCs, or severe bleeding recurs (Grade B/C).


SUMMARY POINTS

If in doubt, protect the airway. Be vigilant for renal insufficiency and volume

overload. Be mindful in patients who don’t exhibit an

appropriate response to RBCs- trend HCTs q6h. Patients on anticoagulants may pose special

challenges. Be wary of contrast nephropathy in patients who

have had CTA or Angiography. Multidisciplinary care is key: engage GI and General

Surgery early on and create a clear plan with clear accountabilities.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

I would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Yuka-Marie Vinagre for your review.

ryan o’gowan, mba, pa-c fapacvs fccm st. vincent hospital, worcester, ma

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