Efficacy and Safety of Continuous Infusion of Terlipressin vs Bolus Terlipressin in ACLF Patients With Acute Esophageal Variceal Bleed

Aim and Objective - To assess the safety and efficacy of continuous terlipressin vs. Bolus terlipressin in the management of acute esophageal variceal bleeding in ACLF.

Study population: Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) diagnosed with ACLF presenting with upper GI bleeding due to esophageal varices Study design: Pilot study Study period: 1 year Sample size: 60

Intervention:

Group I- Intravenous terlipressin (administered as a continuous infusion at 4 mg/24 hours). After 12 hours, if the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) does not show a reduction of less than 10%, increase the dose to 6 mg/24 hours.

Group II- Intravenous terlipressin (2 mg initially every 4 hourly for 2 days and then 1 mg every 4 hrs)

Monitoring and assessment: All patients would undergo vital and baseline parameter screening before randomization. Based on randomization they will receive either steroid or plasma exchange followed by steroid

Adverse effects:

Acute Diarrhea, chest pain, Arterial hypertension, Cardiac arrhythmias, Acute abdomen Stopping rule: chest pain, alteration of ECG, cyanosis, bradycardia, severe allergic rashes

Inclusion criteria

• Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) diagnosed with ACLF presenting with due to esophageal varices bleeding.

Exclusion criteria

• Age < 18 years
• History of coronary heart disease or ventricular arrhythmia,
• Stroke or transient ischemic attack,
• Bronchial asthma,
• Epilepsy,
• Pregnancy,
• Rebleeding.
• HCC
• Gastric variceal bleed