Risk factors for delayed bleeding by onset time after endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric neoplasm

Post-endoscopic submucosal dissection bleeding (PEB) is one of the important complications after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), but still difficult to predict. The present study aimed to identify significant risk factors for PEB according to onset time. Between November 2008 and January 2016, a total of 1864 lesions resected via ESD were analyzed. PEB was classified as either early or late according to onset time (within or after 24 hours post-ESD, respectively). During second-look endoscopy, the artificial ulcer bed was subjected to Forrest classification. A high risk of stigma was defined as active spurting bleeding, oozing bleeding, and a non-bleeding visible vessel in the ulcer. The endoscopic factors and medications associated with PEB were analyzed. PEB occurred in 77 lesions (4.1%): early only in 46 (2.4%), late only in 22 (1.1%), and early and late in 9 (0.4%). Among 55 early PEB events, 25 were asymptomatic and diagnosed during second-look endoscopy. Age ≤65 years, resection size ≥30 mm, procedure time ≥20 min, lower third of the stomach, erosion, and clopidogrel use were significantly associated with early PEB. If the number of risk factors were ≤1, the risk of early PEB was 0.6%. For late PEB, the mid to upper third of the stomach, undifferentiated carcinoma, erosion, high risk of stigma during second-look endoscopy, history of early PEB, and clopidogrel use were significant risk factors. If risk factors were absent, the risk of late PEB was 0.1%. For patients at high risk of early PEB, selective second-look endoscopy might be a useful. For patients at high risk of late PEB, careful monitoring of bleeding should be considered.