Published online Jan 27, 2023. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v15.i1.82
Peer-review started: July 25, 2022
First decision: September 26, 2022
Revised: October 11, 2022
Accepted: November 7, 2022
Article in press: November 7, 2022
Published online: January 27, 2023
Processing time: 176 Days and 16.7 Hours
Endoscopic variceal treatment (EVT) is frequently used in cirrhosis with high-risk gastroesophageal varices and acute variceal bleeding. However, it is often associated with a high risk of post-EVT complications, especially postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB).
The role of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) after EVT remains controversial.
To evaluate the impact of postoperative use of PPIs on post-EVT GIB and other post-EVT complications in patients with liver cirrhosis during hospitalization.
We retrospectively reviewed 911 patients who were consecutively admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology of the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command between January 2016 and June 2020 and treated by an attending physician. Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the impact of postoperative PPIs on post-EVT GIB and other post-EVT complications during hospitalization.
A total of 143 patients were included. The incidence of post-EVT GIB and other post-EVT complications was 4.90% and 46.85%, respectively. In either overall or subgroup analyses, postoperative use of PPIs did not significantly reduce the risk of post-EVT GIB or other post-EVT complications.
Postoperative use of PPIs was not beneficial for reducing the development of post-EVT GIB and other post-EVT complications during hospitalization.
PPIs after EVT should not be routinely used during hospitalization, and their indications should be carefully evaluated. Prospective studies are required to further validate the conclusions of this study.