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Review
. 2022 Jan;24(1):18-25.
doi: 10.1007/s11894-022-00839-4. Epub 2022 Feb 11.

When Can we Feed after a Gastrointestinal Bleed?

Rebecca A Busch  1 , Bryan R Collier  2 , Matthew B Kaspar  3
Affiliations
Review

When Can we Feed after a Gastrointestinal Bleed?

Rebecca A Busch et al. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding can carry minimal or significant risk for recurrent hemorrhage. Timing of feeding after GI bleeding remains an area of debate, and here we review the evidence supporting recommendations.

Recent findings: Improved understanding of the pathophysiology of GI bleeding and the evolution of treatment strategies has significantly altered the management of GI bleeding and the associated propensity for rebleeding. Early feeding following peptic ulcer bleeding remains ill-advised for high risk lesions while early initiation of liquid diets following cessation of esophageal variceal bleeding is appropriate and shortens hospital stays. Time to feeding following GI bleeding is inherently based on the disease etiology, severity, and risk of recurrent hemorrhage. With evolving standards of care, rates of rebleeding following endoscopic hemostasis are decreasing. Some evidence exists for early feeding however, larger multi-center trials are needed to help optimize timing of feeding in higher risk lesions.

Keywords: Esophageal variceal bleeding; Feeding; Gastrointestinal bleeding; Nutrition; Peptic ulcer disease.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance
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