Timing of Endoscopy for Acute Variceal Bleeding in Patients With Cirrhosis

When cirrhotic patients presented with AVB to the emergency department, emergency physicians consulted gastroenterologists on duty to assess the patient for suitability for endoscopy, usually after initial stabilization. Performance of endoscopy and its timing was at the discretion of the gastroenterologist on call. Therapeutic endoscopy for AVB was performed within 24 hours after consultation by an experienced attending endoscopist, using standard forward-viewing upper gastrointestinal video endoscopes at individual centers. Written informed consent for endoscopy was obtained before each procedure. The standard of care at all hospitals was to administer a vasoactive agent and antibiotics upon the patient's presentation. Packed red blood cells were transfused at the discretion of the attending gastroenterologist.