RESUMEN
UNLABELLED: Patients with cardio-vascular surgery are at risk for upper digestive bleeding due to several factors. AIM: To determine the utility of medication and endoscopy in preventing gastrointestinal bleeding (GB) after cardiovascular surgery. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 79 patients (60 males and 19 women, mean age 61 +/- 16.1 years) were prospectively included in the study from the 850 patients operated in the period 2004 - 2006. Inclusion criteria were: patients with digestive symptoms (dyspepsia) and with risk for GB (personal history of peptic ulcer, gastroduodenitis, esophagitis, hiatus hernia, gastric cancer, gastric surgery and GB). All patients with symptoms and partially patients with risk were evaluated by endoscopy. Patients received standard medication for prevention of GB. RESULTS: Prophylactic medication was partially efficient in GB prophylaxis vs. no prophylaxis (7% vs. 11% p < 0.05). Patients with endoscopy examination before surgery had significantly lower incidence of bleeding (6.6% vs. 10.9%, p < 0.05%). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal bleeding may occur despite prophylactic medication. Gastrointestinal endoscopy prior surgery may be useful in preventing the bleeding.