Introduction:

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) occurs in children with varying degrees of severity. The Sheffield score identifies patients at higher risk and allows for deciding on pharmacological, endoscopic, or emergency transfusion interventions.

Objective:

To evaluate the Sheffield score as a clinical tool in the management of pediatric upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Materials and methods:

Descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional field study, January 2024-April 2025. Variables: age, sex, type of bleeding, cofactors, Sheffield score, diagnostic/therapeutic endoscopy, pharmacological treatment, blood components.

Results:

52 children, 27 male (51.92%); median age 7±3.73 (range 1-13 years); schoolchildren 17 (32.69%). Sheffield score 8 in 21 (40.38%) and 31 (59.62%) respectively. Hematemesis with melena 24/52 (46.15%) positive association with score >8, p=0.0000. Most common comorbidity portal hypertension in 30.77% and risk factor critical illness 15.38%; cause of bleeding: esophageal varices 19.33%. Score 8, p=0.0000. Octreotide 15/31 with Sheffield 8, p=0.0001. Videoendoscopy 37/52(71.15%), in 22/37(59.45%) obtained Sheffield >8. Need for therapeutic endoscopy in 21/22(95.45%), p=0.0000 compared to patients with low Sheffield. Band ligation 15/21(71.43%), hemostasis with adrenaline and/or hemoclips 6/21(28.57%). Risk of death with Sheffield >8, RR=6.09.

Conclusion:

The Sheffield score is an optimal tool to assess the severity of bleeding and predict the need for emergency intervention in pediatric care.