Predicting the risk of rebleeding after capsule endoscopy in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding - External validation of the RHEMITT Score.

Background and Aims: Prediction of rebleeding after small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) is challenging. The recently described RHEMITT score includes 7 variables: chronic kidney disease (CKD); heart failure (HF); P1/P2 lesions (Saurin's classification); major bleeding; incomplete examination; smoking and endoscopic treatment. This tool has been shown to accurately predict the risk of recurrence after a SBCE study. The primary aim of this study was to perform an external validation of the RHEMITT score. Methods: Retrospective cohort-study, which consecutively included all patients submitted to SBCE (Mirocam ®) for OGIB between January 2017 and December 2018. Rebleeding was defined as: (1) a drop in hemoglobin>2g/dL or (2) Melena or hematochezia. The RHEMITT score was calculated and subsequently the accuracy of the score for the prediction of rebleeding was assessed. Results: One-hundred and sixty patients were enrolled. Mean age was 65.8 ±13.6years and 58.1% (n=93) were female. The mean follow-up time was 20 (SD 9) months. Rebleeding occurred in 14.4% (n=23). Rebleeding at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months was 6.3%, 12.0%, 14.2% and 15.5% respectively. There was a significant association between the RHEMITT score and rebleeding (p
Source: Digestive Diseases - Category: Gastroenterology Source Type: research