Analysis of risk factors for postoperative bleeding and polyp recurrence in adolescents with gastric polyps treated with endoscopic mucosal resection: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: The incidence of gastric polyps in adolescents has been increasing every year in recent years. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is one of the most common treatments for adults, but there are few reports on the association between EMR of gastric polyps and the occurrence of bleeding and recurrence after the procedure in adolescents. This study sought to analyze the independent risk factors for postoperative bleeding and polyp recurrence after EMR to provide a reference for reducing the occurrence of postoperative complications. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 579 adolescent patients who developed gastric polyps from June 2016 to June 2021. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for 1 year by telephone, e-mail, and outpatient review. The general characteristics of the study population were compiled using a general information questionnaire designed by the investigators. The relationship between the patients’ clinical characteristics and postoperative bleeding or recurrence was analyzed using the chi-square test. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the independent risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative bleeding and polyp recurrence in patients. RESULTS: The results of the binary logistic regression analysis showed that being female [odds ratio (OR) =0.306, P=0.009], polyps >1 cm in diameter (OR =2.557, P=0.029), polyps in gastric sinus (OR =3.889, P=0.032), sessile lesions (OR =0.398, P=0.036), the need for additional intraoperative sedation (OR =3.469, P=0.005), concurrent diverticulum (OR =3.570, P=0.004), and intraoperative bleeding (OR =4.855, P=0.001) were independent risk factors for postoperative bleeding. We also found that polyps >1 cm in diameter (OR =2.134, P=0.003), multiple polyps (OR =2.117, P=0.005), adenomatous polyps (OR =2.684, P=0.041), combined Helicobacter pylori infection (OR =2.036, P=0.009), the occurrence of postoperative gastrointestinal reflux (OR =1.998, P=0.015), and an operative time ≥40 min (OR =2.021, P=0.010) were independent risk factors for the recurrence of polyps. CONCLUSIONS: There is still a high probability of postoperative bleeding and polyp recurrence after EMR in adolescents with gastric polyps. Clinicians should pay close attention to the clinical features of polyps, such as polyp size, number, morphology, and pathological type, to identify the related risk factors as early as possible and reduce the probability of postoperative bleeding and polyp recurrence in patients.