Evaluation of the Sheffield score, clinical characteristics, and the therapeutic approach in children with upper gastrointestinal system bleeding

A. Yucel

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Meram Medical Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey. ayucel82@hotmail.com

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• Gastroenterology
• Pediatrics

OBJECTIVE: Unlike adults, there is no valid and reliable scoring system for upper gastrointestinal system bleeding (UGB) in children. The Sheffield scoring system, which is awaiting confirmation, is the single scoring system which can be predictive for children who require high-risk, endoscopic therapeutic intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Sheffield scoring system, the clinical characteristics of patients, and the treatments applied.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Evaluation was made of a total of 86 children with UGB who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and for whom the Sheffield score was calculated. The decision for therapeutic intervention was made according to the clinical status independently of the score. The demographic data of the patients, clinical symptoms and findings, risk factors, and treatments were examined retrospectively.

RESULTS: The Sheffield score was calculated as ≤8 in 67.4% of the patients and >8 in 32.6%. Endoscopic hemostatic intervention was applied to 15.1% of the patients. The rate of therapeutic endoscopy was significantly high in the high-score group. In 11 patients with Sheffield score >8, the bleeding was brought under control with octreotide treatment administered before endoscopy and no invasive intervention was applied. The sensitivity and specificity of the Sheffield score were determined to be at a good level in the prediction of the requirement for therapeutic endoscopy and octreotide treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: The Sheffield score can reliably predict the need for endoscopic treatment with high sensitivity and specificity. In children with a high score, the need for an invasive intervention can be reduced with the administration of vasoactive treatment before esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The Sheffield score can thus be of guidance in the determination of the need for vasoactive treatment.

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