Delayed Bleeding After Endoscopic Resection of Colorectal Polyps: Identifying High-Risk Patients

Introduction

High-quality colonoscopy and polypectomy reduces mortality from colorectal cancer.¹ In the last decade, the global focus on colorectal cancer screening and high-quality colonoscopy has led to an increasing trend in colonoscopies,² improved lesion detection,^2,3 with a resultant disproportionate increase in polypectomy rates. Post-polypectomy bleeding is an infrequent complication and may be immediate or delayed. The overall incidence of delayed post polypectomy bleeding (DPPB) for colorectal polyps varies between 0.3% and 1.2%,^4–6 and increases to 6.2% for larger (>20mm) lesions.⁷ Despite the low incidence, the burden of DPPB is potentially high due to the frequency of polypectomy, considering lesion detection rates of 25–45%.^8,9 Moreover, with advances and widespread adoption of endoscopic resection techniques including endoscopic submucosal dissection, endoscopic resection has increasingly replaced surgery as the preferred therapeutic approach, even for complex and malignant polyps. Taken together, DPPB represents an important cause of morbidity and health-care-associated cost,¹⁰ which is a potentially predictable and avoidable complication of colonoscopy.

This narrative review aims to provide an evidence-based summary for identifying patients at high risk of DPPB and to discuss pragmatic interventions to mitigate risk and improve patient safety. This will cover endoscopic techniques for resecting conventional colorectal polyps (adenomas and serrated lesions). Full-thickness resection (including surgical hybrid resection techniques) and post-polypectomy perforations are beyond the scope of this paper.

Definition of Post-Polypectomy Bleeding

Post polypectomy bleeding can be broadly categorised into immediate (intraprocedural) and delayed (postprocedural) bleeding. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) defines DPPB as bleeding that occurs after the end of the procedure and up to 30 days post-polypectomy which results in emergency attendance, hospitalisation, or need for re-intervention.¹¹ The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) stratifies severity into minor, intermediate, major or fatal according to the need for hospitalisation and degree of intervention required.¹²

Literature Search

A literature search was performed on MEDLINE and PubMed to identify relevant articles between 2005 and 2021. Articles were identified using a combination of the following broad search formula: “polyp” OR “polypectomy” OR “post-polypectomy” AND “bleed” OR “haemorrhage”. Full-text articles in English were reviewed to only include colorectal polyps. Relevant international guidelines were also reviewed.

Pathogenesis of DPPB

Various mechanisms have been proposed in the pathogenesis of DPPB (Figure 1). The objective of polypectomy is to ensure complete lesion resection with clear depth and margins (R0), and should be ideally performed en bloc to facilitate histological staging. Polypectomy inherently results in a mucosal defect with a varying degree of submucosal tissue and vessel injury,¹³ the effects of which are accentuated with heat. Over time, mucosal re-epithelialization of the defect occurs. However, ulceration due to premature sloughing of the temporary wound eschar may expose an underlying blood vessel before re-epithelialization is complete.^14,15 This may be spontaneous, or traumatic related to passage of stool across the polypectomy site. Alternatively, extension of thermal injury and zone of necrosis may extend to previously non-injured tissue including blood vessels.¹⁴ Diathermy, and adrenaline, results in temporary vasoconstriction of surrounding blood vessels and contraction of surrounding tissues, but may lead to bleeding once these effects wear off post-procedure. Intravascular factors will also contribute to risk, with bleeding more likely in a higher flow state such as a large vessel in a pedunculated polyp stalk, high flow rates within a vessel (eg, from systemic hypertension),¹⁶ or in the presence of an inherited or acquired coagulopathy.

Figure 1 Factors contributing to the pathophysiology of delayed post-polypectomy bleeding.

Risk Factors for DPPB

Risk factors for DPPB can be systematically categorised using the 3P’s: a) Patient-related factors (including antithrombotics), b) Polyp-related factors, and c) Personnel-related factors. The main risk factors and their effect size, as described in the original literature, are displayed in Table 1.

Table 1 Summary of Risk Factors for Delayed Post-Polypectomy Bleeding

Patient-Related Factors

Many patient-related factors affect the risk of DPPB, the majority of which are non-modifiable. These must be clearly considered on an individual basis during the consent process. Whilst co-morbidities may not predict the risk of DPPB, they bear consideration when assessing the impact and physiological reserve to withstand haemorrhage.

Demographics

No demographic factors such as age, sex or race, have been consistently shown to affect the incidence of DPPB.^17,18 In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies, increasing age was not associated with increased risk of DPPB (mean difference 1.68; −1.83–5.20),¹⁷ although data appear conflicting within the literature.^19,20 One study reported a positive association between body mass index >25 and DPPB.²¹ Patients with blood group O are associated with increased bleeding tendency due to lower von Willebrand factor and factor VIII levels;²² a multi-centre retrospective study identified blood group O as an independent risk factor for DPPB (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.6).²³

Comorbidities

In the aforementioned meta-analysis, only hypertension (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.12–2.11) and a history of cardiovascular disease (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.08–2.21) were associated with DPPB, although only a few of the included studies accounted for the confounding effect of antithrombotics. Diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, smoking and alcohol were not associated with DPPB.¹⁷ The effect of chronic liver disease has been examined, although evidence is limited to retrospective studies including predominantly compensated (Child Pugh A) cirrhosis.^24–26 In the largest of these, including 1267 patients with chronic liver disease, DPPB occurred in 0.7% with Child Pugh A but 4.4% of those with more advanced (Child Pugh B or C) cirrhosis.²⁶ Patients with haematological disorders including von Willebrand disease and Haemophilia are well accepted to confer increased risk of bleeding during surgical procedures, although specific data in the context of polypectomy are limited, and may warrant prophylactic treatment with haemostatic agents and blood products.²⁷

Broader descriptors of comorbidity including American Society of Anesthesiologists class have also not been associated with DPPB.¹³ Given that polypectomy is an elective procedure that may be deferred in sick patients, these data may be vulnerable to selection bias.

Antithrombotics

Antithrombotics are increasingly common in patients presenting for colonoscopy due to an ageing population with an increasing prevalence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The risk of DPPB is affected by the following variables: a) the antithrombotic in question; b) duration withheld before polypectomy; c) duration withheld after polypectomy; and d) application of bridging therapy. These are discussed below.

Aspirin

Aspirin has repeatedly been shown to be safe in colonoscopy polypectomy,^28–30 including resection of large non-pedunculated colorectal polyps with EMR.¹³ Weighed against this are the risks of aspirin interruption with a meta-analysis highlighting a threefold risk of major adverse cardiac events following aspirin non-adherence or withdrawal.³¹ International societies therefore recommend uninterrupted aspirin therapy for polypectomy.^32,33

Clopidogrel

Clopidogrel and other P2Y₁₂ receptor modulators including ticagrelor and prasugrel are commonly co-prescribed with aspirin in high-risk patients following acute coronary syndrome. Clopidogrel monotherapy is also prescribed for secondary prevention of cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease. The overall quality of evidence regarding the risk of post-polypectomy bleeding with clopidogrel is poor, reflecting retrospective study designs mainly assessing small polyps with heterogeneous populations that include aspirin co-prescription.

Given the thrombotic risk associated with clopidogrel interruption in high-risk indications (eg, within 3 months after percutaneous intervention with drug-eluting stents), recent studies have advocated for uninterrupted clopidogrel therapy. A meta-analysis of five observational studies, comprising 574 patients, concluded that uninterrupted clopidogrel therapy increased the risk of DPPB (RR 4.66; 95% CI 2.37–9.17; p < 0.0001) but not immediate post-polypectomy bleeding.³⁴ In a recent randomised controlled trial (RCT), uninterrupted clopidogrel was not associated with a significant risk of post polypectomy bleeding, however 90% of polyps included were <10mm in size.³⁵ Based on this, recent BSG/ESGE guidelines advise that if it is not appropriate to defer the procedure, with caution it may be safe to undertake polypectomy of polyps <1cm whilst on clopidogrel monotherapy, or to temporarily switch to aspirin for 7 days in advance of the procedure.³²

Anticoagulants

There is a paucity of RCT data on the safety of polypectomy with regard to warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).³² DOACs are increasingly being prescribed instead of warfarin due to their non-inferiority, convenience, safety profile and with a widening spectrum of indications. Their rapid onset of action has particular relevance for DPPB.

A retrospective cohort study, where warfarin was commonly stopped 4 days before and resumed in the evening following colonoscopy, was still associated with increased risk of DPPB (AOR 11.6; 95% CI 2.3–57.3).³⁶ This is consistent with another retrospective study that where the recommencement of anticoagulation (warfarin or heparin) within one week following polypectomy was associated with an increased risk of post-polypectomy bleeding (OR 5.2; 95% CI 2.2–12.5; P < 0.001).²⁹ When comparing warfarin and DOAC users, a retrospective single centre study in Japan including 31.7% polyps >10mm identified similarly high post-polypectomy bleeding rates in both groups, compared with controls (13.7% vs 0.9%, P < 0.001).³⁷ A retrospective case-matched analysis comparing DOACs to clopidogrel in patients undergoing polypectomy of predominantly <10mm polyps identified no difference in DPPB which occurred in 3% in both groups.³⁸ Prophylactic clipping was more commonly performed in the DOAC group.³⁸ Within the DOAC class, apixaban has been associated with a lower risk of post polypectomy bleeding than rivaroxaban, dabigatran and warfarin.³⁹

The use of bridging anticoagulation, typically with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or sometimes unfractionated heparin (UFH), is used when patients on warfarin pose a high risk of thromboembolism.³² Both methods have been associated with increased rates of clinically significant DPPB,⁴⁰ with rates for UFH as high as 22.2% (OR 9.80; 95% CI 4.23–22.3; P < 0.0001) in one retrospective study, regardless of polyp size.⁴¹

Polyp Factors

Size

Polyp size is the single most important polyp-related factor that has been consistently demonstrated to affect DPPB.^17,42 This correlation was analysed in a meta-analysis in 2017, by Jaruvongvanich et al,¹⁷ where a polyp size of ≥10mm was associated with a 3.4-fold risk of DPPB. Subsequent to this, a retrospective study looking at colonic endomucosal resection identified each additional 1mm increased bleeding risk by an estimated 8% on multivariate analysis,²⁰ in line with previous studies.^29,42,43

When considering very large polyps (≥40mm), another retrospective study found that patients who did and did not experience post-EMR bleeding differed only in the size of the lesion resected (43.2 ± 3.6 mm vs 17.5 ± 10.3 mm, P < 0.001).⁴⁴ For polyps ≥40mm in diameter, the risk of post-EMR bleeding increased 43-fold compared to those <40mm.

Location

Polyp location poses a number of site-specific considerations for an endoscopist and this includes the risk of DPPB. Polypectomy in the right colon, especially the caecum, has been identified as an important risk factor. A large observational study of a national bowel screening programme cohort, after adjusting for polyp size, identified the caecal location conferred a 14-fold risk of DPPB.⁴⁵ This is supported by meta-analysis data associating right-sided polypectomy with DPPB (OR = 1.60%, 95% CI 1.12–2.30).¹⁷ The underlying mechanism for this is unclear but may be due to difference in wall thickness and response to submucosal injection, exposure to ileal fluids, as well as difficult endoscope position.⁴²

Morphology

Polyp morphology has been extensively investigated with variable results. Whilst sessile polyps may have greater potential for submucosal vessel injury due to depth of resection specimen, other retrospective studies have observed more cases of DPPB in patients with pedunculated polyps. Large calibre vessels in the polyp stalk can result in both immediate and DPPB. Stalk diameter of >5mm has been shown to be a risk factor for DPPB (OR 7.17 (95% CI 5.97–8.61) P < 0.001).⁴⁶

In the meta-analysis by Jaruvongvanich et al, pedunculated polyps were not associated with DPPB (OR 1.34 (0.91, 1.96) P value 0.13).¹⁷ Large retrospective studies since this meta-analysis have shown similar non-significant association.²⁰

Histopathology

Polyp pathology with the presence of adenocarcinoma was not associated with DPPB in a meta-analysis,¹⁷ although a large retrospective cohort, included within the meta-analysis, did identify both hamartomatous juvenile (OR 5.7) and Peutz-Jeghers (OR 4.3) polyps to have increased risks of DPPB, when compared to inflammatory/hyperplastic polyps.⁴⁷

Resection Technique

Many of the patient and polyp factors mentioned above will impact the endoscopist decision regarding the method of polypectomy. The ESGE guidelines contain clear recommendations on endoscopic resection techniques based on polyp size and morphology.¹¹ The spectrum of techniques including hot and cold snare polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal resection have been assessed for risk of DPPB, although their effect is often confounded by polyp size and morphology. Full thickness endoscopic resection and surgical hybrid resection techniques lie beyond the scope of this review.

Small polyps less than 10mm are typically removed either by hot snare polypectomy (HSP) or cold snare polypectomy (CSP), and are both effective in achieving low levels of residual polyp tissue.⁴⁸ HSP remains the primary method for resection of large sessile lesions >10mm as well as pedunculated polyps.

With larger non-pedunculated colorectal polyps (>20mm), alternate modalities including EMR and ESD are increasingly used. Bleeding is the most common complication of EMR, and large cohorts report a typical incidence between 2% and 7%.^49–51 A large recent systematic review by Hassan et al of 6779 large polyps >20mm, in 50 studies, identified DPPB in 2.6% (95% CI 2.1%-3.2).⁵² Modified techniques, including underwater EMR (UEMR), are increasingly used with the aim of facilitating complete en-bloc resection.^53–55 It is thought that UEMR allows the mucosa and submucosa to float away from the muscularis propria,⁵⁶ while water provides a heat sink effect during diathermy that prevents deep thermal injury.⁵⁷ However, recent RCTs and meta-analysis comparing underwater EMR with conventional EMR did not identify any difference between rates of DPPB.^55,58,59

A meta-analysis of 6 non-randomised studies compared the rate of DPPB after EMR and ESD.⁵¹ The overall rate of DPPB in the EMR group was 3.5%, whereas that in the ESD group was only 2.0%, despite increased tumour size in the ESD groups.

Modern day electrosurgical units are equipped with microprocessors that enable automated delivery of current in response to tissue resistance, which varies with a number of polypectomy-associated variables, eg, snare thickness, polyp diameter, tension of snare closure, etc. The use of an electrosurgical current not controlled by a microprocessor has been shown to increase DPPB (OR 2.03; P = 0.038).⁷ The optimal mode of diathermy for large non-pedunculated polyps, ie, the use of blended current (yellow pedal) vs coagulation (blue pedal), has long been debated. The recent landmark RCT by Pohl et al compared Endocut vs forced coagulation for the resection of large non-pedunculated colorectal polyps and found no difference in serious adverse event rates including DPPB (5.0% vs 5.7% respectively).⁶⁰

Immediate Post-Polypectomy Bleeding

Immediate post-polypectomy bleeding, while beyond the scope of this review, is a risk factor for DPPB. The large retrospective cohort by Zhang et al identified immediate bleeding to be a significant risk factor (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.4–5.9; p = 0.004),⁴⁷ with Burgess et al reporting a similar effect (OR 2.16; P = 0.016).⁷ These results were replicated in a case control study,¹⁸ where the need for additional conscious sedation, suggesting a more difficult colonoscopy, was also associated with DPPB.

Personnel Related Factors

In addition to the choice and technique of polyp resection (which are endoscopist-dependent), another important consideration is that of personnel including endoscopist experience and the assisting team.

Different measures have been assessed to act as surrogate for colonoscopist expertise. A time-based split between endoscopists with greater or less than 10 years experience identified no significant difference in a retrospective cohort.²⁰ A greater difference was noted when assessing numerical experience. A retrospective review of 5981 polypectomies identified that a colonoscopy procedure count less than 300 was a significant risk factor for DPPB (OR 4.8; 95% CI 02.6–8.8; p = 0.001).⁶¹ A recent meta-analysis, limited by study heterogeneity, which evaluated annual colonoscopy volume and colonoscopy quality found a non-significant trend towards decreased overall adverse events with each additional 100 annual procedures (OR 0.95; 95% CI 0.90–1.00).⁶² As well as its primary importance as a risk factor, it is important to note the potential for endoscopic expertise to act as an important confounding factor, when not detailed in individual study methodology.

Non-technical skills including leadership, judgement, teamwork and situational awareness are now well recognised to contribute to safe and effective patient care, and are becoming embedded into endoscopy training programmes.⁶³ Further studies are needed to show benefit for patient outcomes specific to colonoscopy including DPPB.

Reducing the Risk of DPPB

The identification of risk factors that contribute to DPPB should be applied at a patient level to identify high-risk patients, and implement strategies to mitigate such risk where possible. A summary of proposed intervention, stratified by a patient’s journey before, during and after endoscopy is presented below and summarised in Figure 2. Many of these interventions may be considered generic and do not necessarily have the primary aim to reduce DPPB, or the accompanying evidence base, but rather form part of a broader aim to improve the patient experience and reduce adverse events.

Figure 2 Timeline summary of strategies to minimise impact of delayed post polypectomy bleeding.

Pre-Endoscopy

Pre-Procedure Planning

An important primary consideration is timing of the procedure. In certain cases, for example patients on dual or triple antithrombotic therapy following a recent acute coronary syndrome, it may be prudent to delay planned polypectomy until that risk is minimised.^32,64 Consultation with cardiology or relevant specialties is universally advised.

Pre-endoscopy planning for polyp resection is also encouraged. Whilst screening colonoscopies may require the endoscopist to make a peri-procedural decision regarding resection appropriateness and technique, in many circumstances a prior colonoscopy has already been undertaken. Complex polyps, which can be identified using composite scoring systems such as the “SMSA” scoring system may warrant referral to an individual or specialist centre with relevant expertise.⁶⁵ Whilst such decisions can be made by an individual endoscopist, decision-making can be more accountable when made through a multidisciplinary team, so-called “Complex Polyp MDT”,⁶⁶ although specific evidence of benefit in the context of adverse events including DPPB has not yet been demonstrated.

Optimisation of Anticoagulation Status

Given the presence of anticoagulation is a significant risk factor for DPPB, when to stop, and particularly when to resume antithrombotics, is an important consideration. Inherently, earlier restart of anticoagulants confers greater bleeding risk, with resumption of warfarin within 72 hours after a polypectomy associated with a five-fold increased risk of DPPB.²⁹ However, this must be weighed against the risk of thrombosis. Based on this balance of risk, international societies provide guidance on the resumption of anticoagulation (Table 2), however there is little high-quality evidence to guide timing of resumption, particularly of DOACs.

Table 2 Summary of International Society Regarding Resumption of Anticoagulants Following High-Risk Procedures Including Polypectomy

A large prospective cohort study has confirmed the safety of foregoing bridging therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation on DOAC therapy, with low rates of both major bleeding (<2%) and stroke (<1%) when DOACs were introduced 48 to 72 hours post operatively.⁶⁷

During Endoscopy

Use of Safety Checklists

On the day of endoscopy, it is important to review pre-procedure information to ensure the right procedure has been planned safely on the right patient. The WHO Safer Surgical Checklist with a dedicated “time out” immediately before starting the procedure has been shown to reduce error and mortality in surgery.⁶⁸ Such structured checklists are well established within endoscopy, although further evidence is required to demonstrate improved outcomes specific to DPPB.^69,70

Emergence of Cold Snare Polypectomy

Recent years have seen a marked shift away from HSP in favour of limiting thermal injury by using cold snare polypectomy. Chang et al found that implementation of CSP in a screening setting for small and diminutive polyps (4–10mm) resulted in significant reductions in DPPB (0.1% vs 1.1% for HSP; P < 0.001), serious DPPB (0% vs 0.7%; P < 0.01) and emergency hospitalization (0.1% vs 1.0%; P < 0.01).⁷¹ The CRESCENT RCT compared CSP vs HSP for 4–9mm colorectal polyps found higher complete resection rates with CSP (98.2% vs 97.4%, P < 0.001),⁷² with DPPB only occurring in the HSP groups (0.5%). An RCT of anticoagulated patients found HSP to be associated with a significantly higher rate of DPPB compared to CSP (14% vs 0%; p 0.027).⁷³ This study and seven other randomised control trials were analysed in a meta-analysis by Shinozaki et al in 2018; whilst HSP was associated with a higher rate of DPPB (risk ratio 7.53; 95% CI 0.94–60.24), the result did not meet significance (P = 0.06).⁴⁸ There are other benefits to CSP including shorter procedure time, cost saving and reduced incidence of post-polypectomy syndrome that place CSP as the preferred method for small polyp excision.^48,74

The application of diathermy-free techniques extends into the large sessile polyps, where cold EMR has demonstrated a comparable safety profile.⁷⁵ A retrospective review of piecemeal cold snare EMR of 204 sessile non-malignant polyps sized ≥20 mm reported a comparable DPPB rate of 3.8%.⁷⁶

Prophylactic Endoscopic Techniques to Reduce DPPB

Beyond the broader choices for endoscopic resection outlined previously, there are a number of additional techniques that can be considered in order to reduce the risk of DPPB. Such techniques include pre-treatment of pedunculated polyp stalks, defect closure with prophylactic clip placement and endotherapy to the mucosal defect.

Pedunculated polyps are typically removed from the stalk base using a hot snare. Bleeding is the most common adverse event. Randomised control trials have assessed the respective merits of prophylactic adrenaline and mechanical clip placement for pedunculated polyps. Individual RCTs have shown benefit of pretreatment of larger pedunculated polyp stalks with adrenaline.^77,78 A subsequent meta-analysis of six RCTs, which did not distinguish between sessile and pedunculated polyps in its final analysis, found submucosal injection of adrenaline reduced the occurrence of early bleeding but did not affect DPPB.⁷⁹ Further RCTs have demonstrated superiority of mechanical haemostasis with either clip or detachable snare (with or without adrenaline), over adrenaline alone.^80,81 For this reason, ESGE recommends pre-treatment of pedunculated polyps, with heads >20mm or stalk >10mm, with injection of dilute adrenaline and/or mechanical haemostasis.¹¹

The question of when to apply prophylactic closure of a mucosal defect after polypectomy is controversial. A recent meta-analysis of 7 RCTs, including 24% polyps >10mm, did not identify any overall benefit for clipping in preventing DPPB, but was underpowered to identify differences in subgroups such as polyp location and size.⁸² This has been addressed in subsequent meta-analyses of large non-pedunculated lesions where clip closure for polyps >20mm situated in the proximal colon reduced DPPB by over 50%.^83–85 In a decision analysis, Parikh et al concluded that prophylactic clip placement was cost-effective for 10–15mm polyps in patients on non-aspirin antithrombotic therapy,⁸⁶ although their model assumed a 82% risk reduction rate in DPPB. It should also be noted that any benefit with clips is dependent on successful closure of the defect, which may not be achievable or incomplete in 30–40% cases.^87,88 Current ESGE guidelines do not recommend routine clip closure but leave it for the discretion of the endoscopist in higher-risk cases.¹¹

Inspection of Resection Site

Close attention to the residual mucosal defect is important to assess adequacy of resection and assess for complications such as bleeding and perforation.⁸⁹ A prospective audit of piecemeal-EMR found that visible muscle fibers and the presence of a “cherry red spot” was associated with DPPB, whereas visible intact vessels and the use of argon plasma photocoagulation was not.¹³ Close observation of the defect and prompt management of immediate bleeding can prevent DPPB. This is supported by a retrospective study that involved close inspection and irrigation of the resection site, with a haemostatic clip placed if any bleeding persisted for more than 30 seconds, which resulted in a decreased incidence of DPPB (0.4%) compared with controls (1.1%).⁹⁰

A recent RCT assessed prophylactic endoscopic coagulation to reduce DPPB following EMR of sessile polyps greater than >10mm. Five hundred and seventy patients were randomised following resection to either usual care or prophylactic electrocautery (PEC) until visible vessels or erythema disappeared. PEC was associated with significantly decreased risk of DPPB.⁹¹ Alternatives to PEC are also being investigated. A recent RCT by Subramaniam et al assessed the application of a topical haemostatic matrix, Purastat (3D-Matrix Europe Ltd., France) during ESD of oesophageal and colonic lesions 2–5cm, compared with usual electrocautery. The Purastat group was associated with improved wound healing at 4 weeks and no significant difference in rate of DPPB (4.3% vs 4.4%; p = 0.98).⁹²

Post-Endoscopy

Risk Scores to Predict Post-Polypectomy Bleeding

Quantifying the risk of DPPB using an evidence-based approach can help to tailor a patient’s pre-procedural, intraprocedural and post-procedural management. A number of risk scores have been devised for this purpose, which are summarised in Table 3.

Table 3 Summary of Risk Scores to Predict Delayed Post-Polypectomy Bleeding Following EMR

In 2016, both an Australian (ACER score) and a Spanish group (GSEED-RE score) published risk scores that predicted DPPB in patients undergoing EMR of sessile lesions ≥20mm.^93,94 The ACER score comprised four risk components; lesion size >30mm, proximal colon location, presence of major comorbidity and adrenaline not being used.⁹³ Components of these risk scores overlapped, and subsequently in 2019 the Spanish group internally revalidated their score, combining it with the ACER score to produce the GSEED-RE2.⁹⁵ The GSEED-RE2 includes 4 components; antiplatelets or anticoagulants (3 points), proximal location (3 points), size ≥40mm (2 points) and ASA III/IV comorbidity (1 point). The compiled score is stratified into low risk (0–3), medium risk (4–6), high risk (7–9) groups, and corresponded with a DPPB bleeding risk of 2.2%, 4.1% and 14.8%, respectively. Unlike the previous iterations, the GSEED-RE2 has the benefit that it can be calculated prior to endoscopy.

The “SMSA” classification system has also been studied in the context of adverse events including DPPB. A retrospective review of a database of large colonic laterally spreading lesions (LSLs) ≥20mm found clinically significant post-polypectomy bleeding was significantly less common for SMSA 2 LSLs (OR 0.23, P < 0.01) and SMSA 3 LSLs (OR 0.60, P = 0.05) compared with SMSA 4 lesions.⁹⁶

Of note, neither the commonly used CHADSVASC nor HASBLED scores predicted PPB in one retrospective cohort, most likely reflecting the primary importance of polyps factor in the risk of DPPB.⁴⁰

Recognition and Treatment of Delayed Post-Polypectomy Bleeding

Given nearly all patients undergoing polypectomy will be discharged on the day of the procedure, it is vital patients are provided with information of symptoms suggestive of DPPB, and how to best seek medical advice.

Whilst mortality from DPPB is extremely low, patients typically require hospitalisation for clinical assessment, consideration of transfusion and further endoscopic intervention or surgery. In a large cohort from the UK Bowel Cancer Screening programme including 11,564 patients, there was no mortality from DPPB, but 27.9% underwent repeat endoscopy, 13.2% received a blood transfusion and 1.5% required surgery.⁴⁵ Median hospital stay was 2 days.⁴⁵ Notably, in this cohort, less than half of the patients who underwent repeat colonoscopy received endoscopic therapy during the procedure. This is similar to a recent multi-centre cohort where 43% did not require therapy.⁹⁷ Predictors of the need for endoscopic intervention were active use of anticoagulation, left-sided polyps, prior electrocautery and pedunculated morphology.⁹⁷

Within the field of EMR, Burgess et al proposed a management algorithm for DPPB including predictors of need for intervention. Predictors for urgent intervention included the need for transfusion, haemoglobin <12 g/dL on admission, haemodynamic instability, ongoing hematochezia and American Society of Anesthesiologists grade ≥2.⁹⁸

Future Directions

The last few decades have already seen the incidence of DPPB decrease, despite the increasing complexity of polypectomy undertaken.¹⁰ This is likely multifactorial due to improving endoscopic techniques, the emergence of cold snare polypectomy and changes in anticoagulation use with the advent of DOACs.³⁹ Further reduction in the incidence of DPPB should occur as part of a broader aim to improve colonoscopy practise.

The low incidence of post-polypectomy bleeding can be a barrier for designing high-quality, adequately powered studies, and reinforces the ongoing benefit of collaborative multi-centre work and data from large screening populations. Further large studies will likely refine the area of current practice, for example guiding approaches to the optimal timing resumption of anticoagulants including DOACs.

A key challenge is how best to transfer the knowledge gained from large population studies and apply it to the next individual patient, in order to provide accurate and helpful prognostic information of risk. Risk scores, so far seen predominantly within the field of EMR, are an important step in this direction, but require further validation and care to avoid increasing score complexity that may limit practical use. Artificial intelligence and machine learning may have a role in bridging this gap. A large number of patient, polyp and procedure factors could be compiled into an individual risk score. Equally, artificial intelligence may have a role in review of residual resection sites of larger defects, to help identify residual polyp, direct prophylactic endotherapy and personalise antithrombotic management in patients at high risk of DPPB.

Conclusion

DPPB is a primary complication of colonoscopy and its frequency increases with the complexity of polypectomy. Numerous patient, polyp and personnel related risk factors contribute to the risk of DPPB. Overall, the greatest risks are seen with the presence of antithrombotics, increasing polyp size, proximal polyp location and use of thermal energy.

Interventions to reduce risk and impact of DPPB include an increasing array of endoscopic techniques, but attention must also be made to pre- and post-procedure care. Although composite risk scores for DPPB exist, future advances may include the use of artificial intelligence to improve risk prediction and individualize antithrombotic management.