Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage

Bleeding from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in an area proximal to the ligament of Treitz is defined as upper gastrointestinal (UGI) haemorrhage. The incidence of this is 1 in 1000 cases per year.1 Hospitalization is common. Old age and the presence of comorbidities are associated with greater mortality. Over 70% occur in patients over 60 years old.2 Mortality is 14% in isolated bleeds and increases to 33% if it occurs after hospitalization with another illness.3 In the context of microcytic anaemia, British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines recommend investigation of the GI tract to rule out the presence of GI malignancy.

Citation

Abdelrahman, M., & Hornby, S. (2020). Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Surgery (Oxford), 38(11), 646–652.

DOI

10.1016/j.mpsur.2020.08.006

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14709/969