©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Crit Care Med. Feb 4, 2015; 4(1): 40-46
Published online Feb 4, 2015. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v4.i1.40
Published online Feb 4, 2015. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v4.i1.40
Treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients receiving antiplatelet therapy
Hiroshi Yasuda, Yasumasa Matsuo, Yoshinori Sato, Sun-ichiro Ozawa, Shinya Ishigooka, Masaki Yamashita, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Fumio Itoh, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this work.
Conflict-of-interest: There are no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Correspondence to: Hiroshi Yasuda, MD, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan. hyasuda@marianna-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-44-9778111 Fax: +81-44-9765805
Received: September 26, 2014
Peer-review started: September 28, 2014
First decision: December 17, 2014
Revised: December 26, 2014
Accepted: January 15, 2015
Article in press: January 15, 2015
Published online: February 4, 2015
Processing time: 137 Days and 23.8 Hours
Peer-review started: September 28, 2014
First decision: December 17, 2014
Revised: December 26, 2014
Accepted: January 15, 2015
Article in press: January 15, 2015
Published online: February 4, 2015
Processing time: 137 Days and 23.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a relatively common complication in patients receiving antiplatelet therapy and is associated with an increased risk of recurrent ischemic events and mortality. Early endoscopy is useful for both the diagnosis and the therapeutic management of GIB. Antiplatelet therapy should be resumed immediately after endoscopic hemostasis of GIB, unless the bleeding is life threatening. Prophylaxis with antisecretory drugs such as proton-pump inhibitors reduces the risk of GIB.