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Can Pleth Variability Index Levels in Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Predict the Requirement for
Clinical Laboratory
|July 7, 2026
Summary
Pleth variability index (PVI) can predict the need for blood transfusions in emergency department patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. A PVI level of 28 or higher suggests a potential requirement for blood product replacement.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Hemodynamic Monitoring
Background:
- Pleth variability index (PVI) is a non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring tool.
- PVI is recognized for assessing fluid status and fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients.
- Its utility in predicting blood product needs in gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the predictive value of PVI for blood product replacement in GI bleeding patients.
- To determine if PVI levels upon emergency department admission correlate with transfusion requirements.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study at a single center.
- Included adult patients diagnosed with GI bleeding requiring endoscopy.
- Recorded sociodemographics, PVI levels, and laboratory results; analyzed relationships with blood product replacement.
Main Results:
- The study included patients with a mean age of 68.2 years; 61% were male.
- Median hemoglobin for those receiving blood products was 7.3 g/dL.
- A PVI level of ≥ 28 predicted the need for blood product replacement (p < 0.020).
Conclusions:
- This is the first study to report PVI levels in GI bleeding patients.
- Emergency department PVI measurements may predict the need for blood product replacement.
- PVI shows potential as a valuable bedside tool for managing GI hemorrhage.
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