Gastrointestinal Bleeding Rates in Left Ventricular Assist Device Population Reduced with Octreotide Utilization

Patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices have a high risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and recurrent bleeding. Studies have shown octreotide can reduce the risk of GIB. This retrospective, case-crossover study, evaluated the efficacy of octreotide for the prevention of recurrent GIB in patients with left ventricular assist devices between August 2008 and October 2018. A total of 32 patients received octreotide and were included in the study. Hospital admission for GIB was evaluated before and after the initiation of octreotide. Each case served as his/her own control. Most patients were on a reduced aspirin dose (56.2%) and had a reduced international normalized ratio goal (59.4%) before starting monthly octreotide. The most common dose of long-acting octreotide was 30 mg every 28 days. Overall, octreotide decreased the frequency of GIB (4.3 vs. 0.9 events/year, p < 0.001). Nineteen (59.4%) patients did not have a subsequent gastrointestinal bleed. Of the 13 patients who rebled after initiation of octreotide, the frequency of events decreased by 2.6 bleeds per patient per year (4.8 vs. 2.2; p = 0.043). In high-risk patients who have failed conventional therapy, octreotide can be useful for the prevention of recurrent GIB.