Comparison of a novel bedside portable endoscopy device with nasogastric aspiration for identifying upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with symptoms or signs of gastrointestinal bleeding n (%)

Age, mean ± SD, yr	64.46 ± 13.79 (n =129)
Gender, Male	91 (70.5)
Co-morbidities
Hypertension	48 (37.2)
Diabetes mellitus	33 (25.6)
Cardiovascular disease	17 (13.2)
Liver cirrhosis	39 (30.2)
Chronic kidney disease	14 (10.9)
Cerebrovascular disease	22 (17.1)
Malignancy	25 (19.4)
Initial vital sign
Systolic blood pressure, mmHg	119.52 ± 25.67
Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg	72.33 ± 17.53
Pulse rate, mean ± SD	85.31 ± 15.78
Initial hemoglobin, g/dL	9.55 ± 2.62
Bleeding related signs or symptoms
Melena	46 (35.7)
Hematemesis	43 (33.3)
Hematochezia	28 (21.7)
Anemia	12 (9.3)
Non-bleeding related signs or symptoms
Dizziness	14 (10.9)
Epigastric pain	13 (10.1)
Syncope	2 (1.6)
Dyspnea	2 (1.6)

Table 2 Bleeding sources confirmed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy n (%)

	Patients n =129
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding	81 (62.8)
Esophagus	20 (15.5)
Esophageal varices	17 (13.1)
Esophageal ulcers	3 (2.3)
Stomach	53 (41.1)
Gastric ulcers	35 (27.1)
Gastric varices	8 (6.2)
Hemorrhagic gastritis	4 (3.2)
Mallory-Weiss syndrome	3 (2.3)
Cancer	2 (1.5)
Angiodysplasia	1 (0.8)
Duodenum	8 (6.2)
Duodenal ulcers	7 (5.4)
Angiodysplasia	1 (0.8)
Non upper gastrointestinal bleeding	36 (27.9)
Small bowel bleeding	8 (6.2)
Colorectum	23 (17.8)
Colitis	9 (6.9)
Ulcers	7 (5.4)
Cancers	2 (1.5)
Diverticulum	2 (1.5)
Hemorrhoid	1 (0.8)
Rectal varices	1 (0.8)
Radiation colitis	1 (0.8)
Others	5 (4)
Hemoptysis	4 (3.2)
Nasal bleeding	1 (0.8)
No definite focus of bleeding	12 (9.3)

Table 3 Procedural results of EG scan and nasogastric tube aspiration n (%)

	Patients n = 129
	EG scan	NG tube aspiration	P value
Procedure time, mean ± SD, min	5.49 ± 2.33
Examiner
Endoscopist	24 (18.6)	0
Non-endoscopist	105 (81.4)	129 (100)
Insertion to stomach	128 (99.2)	129 (100)
Insertion to duodenum	4 (3.1)
Main findings
Blood	59 (45.7)	75 (58.1)	0.061
Food material	27 (20.9)	12 (9.3)	0.014
Esophageal lesions1	41 (31.8)
Stomach lesions1	9 (7.0)
Duodenal lesions	0
Adverse effects
Nasal pain	60 (46.5)	40 (31)	0.015
Nausea	26 (20.1)	5 (3.9)	< 0.001
Epistaxis	11 (8.5)	28 (21.7)	0.005
Cough	9 (6.9)	11 (8.5)	0.817
Others	1 (0.7)	2 (1.6)	1.000

¹Esophageal lesions: varices 26, ulcers 6, erosions 15 (6 patients had multiple lesions); stomach lesions: ulcers 3, erosions 6. NG: Nasogastric.

Table 4 Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EG scan and nasogastric aspiration for upper gastrointestinal bleeding identification

	Overall n = 129			Esophagus n = 68
	EG scan	NG tube	P value	EG scan	NG tube	P value
Sensitivity	64.2 (52/81)	74.1 (60/81)	> 0.05	95 (19/20)	90 (18/20)	> 0.05
Specificity	85.4 (41/48)	68.8 (33/48)	0.008	85.4 (41/48)	68.8 (33/48)	0.008
Accuracy	72.1 (93/129)	72.1 (93/129)	> 0.05	88.2 (60/68)	75 (51/68)	0.004

UGI: Upper gastrointestinal.

Table 5 Comparison of EG scan outcomes between endoscopists and non-endoscopists n (%)

	Endoscopists n = 24	Non-endoscopists n = 105	P value
Procedure time, mean ± SD, min	4.33 ± 1.76	5.75 ± 2.36	0.001
Insertion to duodenum	1 (4.2)	3 (2.9)	0.657
Main findings
Blood	10 (41.7)	49 (46.7)	0.821
Esophageal lesions	6 (25)	35 (33.3)	0.478
Stomach lesions	2 (8.3)	7 (6.7)	0.673
Accuracy for UGI bleeding	16 (66.7)	77 (73.3)	0.614