CORRELATION OF ADJUSTED BLOOD REQUIREMENT INDEX WITH TREATMENT INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH ACUTE VARICEAL BLEEDING

Abstract

Objective: To determine the correlation of ABRI with treatment intervention and outcome as discharged
or expired in patients of acute variceal bleed.
Design: Cross-sectional study
Patients and Methods: Records of all die patients admitted in Medical IJnit-IV, Civil Hospital Karachi with
acute variceal bleeding during January 2004 to October 2006 were retrieved. Use of vasoactive agents
(Terlipressin Octreotide), endoscopic band ligation (EBL) and outcome (Discharged/Expired) were noted.
ABRI was calculated by the following formula:
Blood Units Transfused
A B RI- ----------------------- ;-------- ;-----------
[(Final Hematocrit - Initial Hematocrit) + 0.01 J
Mean ABRI were compared by Student’s T test according to vasoactive therapy, EBL, and outcome.
Correlation o f ABRJ with the same variables was also studied bv plotting Receiver Operative Curves (ROC).
Results: Seventy' six patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were selected. No statistically significant difference
was observed in the mean ABRJ scores when compared according to vasoactive drug administration, EBL
and outcome. Significant correlation with mortality was seen on ROC plot with significantly larger area
under the curv e.
Conclusion: ABRI correlated significantly with mortality in this study. Larger prospective studies with
appropriate power are required to evaluate its association with other variables.