Atrioesophageal fistula (AEF) is an important complication of radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Delayed diagnosis is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Despite the name “atrioesophageal fistula,” fistulas functionally act esophageal to atrial, which accounts for the neurologic and infectious complications. This report presents the management of a 60-year-old male patient who was admitted to the emergency department (ED) with AEF-caused gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient was operated urgently, but he had serious comorbidities and died after the operation. The aim of this case was to evaluate patients who underwent RFA, within 10 days to two months, carefully in the ED and to know the possible complications.

Gastrointestinal bleeding complicated with protein-losing enteropathy after the Fontan procedure has been often reported in recent years, but there is no established therapy for it.

We report the case of an 18-year-old boy who suffered from abdominal pain, melena, and anaemia due to intractable haemorrhagic protein-losing enteropathy after the Fontan procedure. He was successfully treated with octreotide therapy.

Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common presentation to the emergency department (ED). Early endoscopy within 24 hours has been shown to reduce re-bleeding rates and lower mortality. However, low-risk patients can often be managed through outpatient follow-up. The aim of this study was to compare the timing and appropriateness of endoscopy and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use in a tertiary care ED setting for low- and high-risk patients determined using the Glasgow Blatchford Score (GBS). Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted to examine the management of patients presenting with an UGIB in 2016 to the University of Alberta Hospital ED. TANDEM and Emergency Department Information System (EDIS) databases were used to identify patients using specific ICD-10 codes and the CEDIS presenting complaints of vomiting blood or blood in stool/melena. Patients with GBS 0-3 were categorized as low-risk and those with GBS > 3 were considered high-risk with appropriateness of and time to endoscopy, disposition of patient at 24 hours, and use of PPIs determined for each group. Results: A total of 400 patients were included. A total of 319/400 patients (80%) underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). EGD was performed within 24 hours in 37% of patients (29/78) with GBS 0 to 3 and in 77% (248/322) with GBS greater than 3. Of the remaining high-risk patients, 11% (36/322) underwent EGD after 24 hours and 12% (38/322) did not undergo EGD. The endoscopic diagnoses were peptic ulcer disease (PUD) in 41% of patients (130/319), esophagitis in 18% (56/319), and varices in 14% (45/319). PPIs (data available 375/400) were administered (mainly intravenously) to 93% (279/300) of high-risk and 79% (59/75) of low-risk patients. Data on patient disposition showed 60/322 (19%) high-risk patients were discharged from the ED within 24 hours and only 31/60 (52%) of these underwent EGD before discharge. Of 29 low-risk patients undergoing EGD within 24 hours, 9 (31%) were admitted, 17 (59%) were discharged from ED, and 3 (10%) were kept for observation in the ED greater than 24 hours. Of low-risk patients, 76% (59/78) were discharged from the ED within 24 hours. Conclusion: A majority of patients presenting with UGIB appropriately received endoscopy within 24 hours. 19% of high-risk patients were discharged from the ED. Earlier discharge for low-risk patients can be improved as only 76% of low-risk patients were discharged from the ED within 24 hours. As expected, PPI use was high in these patients.

Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common Emergency Department (ED) presentation. Early endoscopic intervention, supported by Glasgow Blatchford Score (GBS) severity, has been shown to reduce re-bleeding rates and lower morbidity and mortality. However, emergent endoscopy is not necessary for all patients. Low-risk patients can be managed with outpatient follow-up. Other important management decisions such as blood transfusion (Hb <70) and use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) also warrant evaluation. The aim of this study was to compare the timing and appropriateness of endoscopy and blood transfusion and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use in a tertiary care setting to the standard of care. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to examine the management of patients presenting with UGIB to the ED in 2016 using a standard chart review methodology. TANDEM and EDIS (Emergency Department Information System) databases were queried to identify patients using specified ICD 10 codes and the CEDIS (Canadian Emergency Department Information System) presenting complaints of vomiting blood or blood in stool/melena. Outcome measures included: patient characteristics, the GBS to determine appropriateness of endoscopic intervention, diagnoses, blood transfusion indications and utilization of oral or intravenous PPIs. Data were entered into a REDCap database and analyzed using standard non-parametric statistical tests. Results: A total of 200 patients, 59% male (118/200), mean age 59 years (range 18 - 92 years) were included. The median GBS was 9. 79% of patients (157/200) underwent endoscopy during the hospital visit: 30% of patients with GBS 0-3 (13/43) and 80% patients with GBS 4 (125/157) underwent endoscopy 24 hours. The two most common endoscopic diagnoses were peptic ulcers (39%, 61/157) and varices (18%, 28/157), while 14% (22/157) had a normal diagnosis or mild gastritis. 174/200 patients (87%) were given IV or oral PPI in the ED whereas the remaining 26 (13%) did not receive PPI in hospital. 46% of patients (89/194) received blood transfusion, but only 51% (45/89) were administered based on the 70 g/L threshold while in 40% (36/89) of patients the less restrictive threshold of 90 g/L was used. Conclusion: A majority of UGIB patients presenting to a tertiary hospital ED appropriately received endoscopy 24 hours based on a GBS score 4. PPI use was appropriate but a proportion of patients received inappropriate blood transfusions.

Introduction: Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) is a common presentation to the emergency department (ED) accounting for significant morbidity, mortality and health care resource usage. In Alberta, a provincial care pathway was recently developed to provide an evidence informed approach to managing patients with an UGIBs in the ED. Pantoprazole infusions are a commonly used treatment despite evidence that suggests they are generally not indicated prior to endoscopy in the ED. The goal of this project was to optimize management of patients with a NVUGIB, in particular reduce pre-endoscopy pantoprazole infusions. Methods: In July 2016, we implemented a multi-faceted intervention to optimize management of ED patients with NVUGIB including 1. de-emphasizing IV pantoprazole infusions in the ED, 2. clinical decision support (CDS) embedded (for endoscopy, disposition and transfusions) within the order set and 3. educating clinicians about the care pathway. We used a pre/post-order set design, analyzing 391 days pre and 189 days post-order set changes. Data was extracted from our fully integrated electronic health records system. The primary outcome was the % of patients receiving IV pantoprazole infusion ordered by an emergency physician (EP) among all patients with NVUGIB. Secondary outcomes included % transfused with hgb >70g/L and whether using the GIB order set impacted management of NVUGIB patients. Results: In the 391 days pre-order set changes, there were 2165 patients included and in the 189 days post-order set changes, there were 901 patients. For baseline characteristics, patients in the post-order set change group were significantly older (64.4 yrs vs 60.9 yrs p-value=0.0016) and had a lower hgb (115 vs 118, p-value=0.049) but otherwise for gender, measures of severity of illness (systolic blood pressure, heart rate, CTAS, % admitted) there were no significantly differences. For the primary outcome, in the pre-order set phase, 47.1% received a pantoprazole infusion ordered by an EP, compared to 31.5% in the post-order phase, for an absolute reduction of 15.6% (p-value= <0.001). For the secondary outcomes, transfusion rates were similar pre/post (22.08% vs 22.75%). Significant inter-site variability exists with respect to the reduction in pantoprazole infusion rates across the four sites (-23.3% to +6.12%). Conclusion: Our interventions resulted in a significant overall reduction in pantoprazole infusions in ED patients with NVUGIB. Reductions in pantoprazole infusions varied significantly across the different sites, future work in our department will explore and address this variability. Keys to the success of this project included engaging clinicians as well as leveraging the SCM order sets as well as the provincial care pathway. Although there were no changes in transfusion rates, it in unclear if this a function of the CDS not being effective or whether these transfusions were clinically indicated.

The selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors celecoxib and rofecoxib were designed to have similar efficacy but less gastrointestinal toxicity than traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Their efficacy has been demonstrated in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, postoperative dental pain and dysmenorrhea. These agents produce fewer endoscopic ulcers, symptomatic ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeds than traditional NSAIDs; although the absolute benefit is small and the gastropreserving effect is negated by concurrent use of low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular risk reduction. Nephrotoxicity and hyptertension remain concerns with COX-2 inhibitors, as they are with traditional NSAIDs. COX-2 inhibitors may be safe alternatives to traditional NSAIDs for patients with aspirin-sensitive asthma.