Work

Prophylactic endotracheal intubation prior to emergency endoscopy for acute esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage: a retrospective single center study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Prophylactic endotracheal intubation (PEI) is widely performed before emergency endoscopy in patients with acute esophagogastric variceal bleeding (AEVB). However, its safety and benefits remain controversial. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of PEI in patients with AEVB and the appropriate extubation time. METHODS: Patients with AEVB and underwent emergency endoscopy at The First Affiliated Hospital (04/2011-09/2023) were included and divided into PEI and non-PEI groups. Clinical outcomes included cardiopulmonary complications, incidence of automatic discharge or in-hospital death, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and rebleeding rate in one month. Extubation time in patients with PEI was also analyzed. RESULTS: Three patients had massive aspiration without PEI. Among 141 patients, 97 (68.8%) received PEI. Pneumonia and pulmonary edema were more frequent in the PEI group (42.3% vs. 25.0%; OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.00-4.86; P = 0.049; 26.8% vs. 6.8%; OR = 5.00, 95% CI: 1.42-17.55; P = 0.007), and the ICU LOS was also longer (P<0.001). Among patients with PEI, 29 (29.9%) patients were extubated within 24 h, and had a lower incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (4.4% vs. 17.2%, P = 0.049; adjusted P = 0.123), lower automatic discharge or in-hospital death rate (2.9% vs. 20.7%, P = 0.008), shorter ICU and hospital LOS (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: PEI prior to emergency endoscopy may not protect patients with AEVB from cardiopulmonary complications or improve their prognosis, but it may prevent severe fatal aspiration. And early extubation appears to be associated with better clinical outcomes.

Source: BMC Gastroenterology

DOI: 10.1186/s12876-025-04066-9

Authors: Yi-Ru Zhao, Ya-Ting Wang, Xue-Qun Zhang

Institutions: First Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University

Language: English

Topic: Liver Disease and Transplantation

Subfield: Hepatology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,190