Objective:

The purpose of this study was to identify the underlying pathology of gastric bleeding and the patient’s clinical condition to determine the effect of triggering is to reveal in patients were hospitalized for upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients using oral anticoagulants.

Methods:

In this study, between January 1^st 2007 and December 31^st 2010 Ministry of Health İstanbul Education and Research Hospital, Internal Medicine Clinics, who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in 70 patients using oral anticoagulantsand not using oral anticoagulant 229 patients were evaluated retrospectively. Files examinated about the patient gender, age, presenting symptoms, the application of hemoglobin and INR values, a history of aspirin use, smoking and drinking history, presence of concomitant disease, endoscopy reports, duration of hospitalization, need for transfusion, need for emergency surgery, mortality.

Results:

The use of aspirin, recurrent bleeding rate, emergency surgery, mortality, in terms of length of stay and the complaint was similar in the two groups. In addition, in our study, endoscopy results of the using oral anticoagulation in patients was lower than the literature. In our study, patients using oral anticoagulant (OAC) association of H. pylori has been found less likely than non-users. Concurrent use of aspirin did not affect the findings of endoscopy in both patient groups. Length of hospital stay in patients using OAC with recurrent bleeding, was more than other group. The first and recurrent hemorrhage, mortality, use of aspirin, gender did not differ among patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Gender, and length of hospital aspirin use, mortality, endoscopic findings, was similar in men and women in patients using OAC or not-using.

Conclusion:

As a result, the use of OAC and supratherapeutic INR value do not increase the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, if there is no an underlying gastric pathology.

Keywords: Anticoagulants, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, endoscopy