Novel Nasogastric Tube-Related Criteria for Urgent Endoscopy in Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Background Patients with active upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) require urgent endoscopy, but appropriate criteria for urgent endoscopy in these patients have not yet been established. Aims The goal of this study is to establish a simple system for the selection of UGIB patients who may benefit from urgent endoscopy. Methods Of the 335 patients who required emergency hospitalization for UGIB from May 2010 to March 2012 at Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital, 166 patients who underwent placement of a nasogastric tube (NGT) were retrospectively identified. Active bleeding on the endoscopic image was used as an endpoint that reflected the need for urgent endoscopy. Results The ratio of the heart rate to the systolic blood pressure (HR/SBP ratio) and aspiration of fresh or dark red fluid from the NGT [NGT(+)] were significant predictors of active bleeding in the univariate analysis [HR/SBP ratio, P = 0.016; NGT(+), P < 0.001]. The HR/SBP ratio [odds ratio (OR) 8.118; 95 % confidence intervals (CI) 1.696-38.850; P = 0.009] and NGT(+) (OR 4.630; 95 % CI 2.092-10.204; P < 0.001) were also significantly associated with active bleeding in the multivariate analysis. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a setting with HR/SBP ratio > 1.4 or NGT(+) to be optimal criteria to predict active bleeding. These criteria were associated with a sensitivity of 64.9 % (24/37) and a specificity of 76.7 % (99/129) for the prediction of active bleeding; consequently, they are superior to the sensitivity and specificity of previously proposed criteria. Conclusions A novel and simple criteria system using NGT(+) and HR/SBP is a good predictor of the need for urgent endoscopy in patients with nonvariceal UGIB.