Publication:

Endoscopic evaluation in upper gastrointestinal bleed

Background Gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the few frightening things that the patient experiences, which can indicate simple, benign, complex or malignant disorders and can end in disaster if proper steps are not taken to identify the source of bleeding and treat it. Aim was to study the role of oesophagogastroduodenoscopy in diagnosis, management and prognosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and see the aetiology and age sex incidence.

Methods The study was conducted on 200 patients, presenting with haematemesis and melaena or history of same and Endoscopy was done using Fujinon 200 Videoendoscope (that consist of end viewing endoscope, videoprocessor and monitor).

Results Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was 4.5 times more common in males than in females and the mean age in this series was 40 years. Most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding was found to be secondary to oesophageal varices (About 90%), peptic ulcers (6%) and 4% secondary to mucosal erosions. About 22% of patients had both haematemesis and melaena, 28% had hypotension and 70% had tachycardia at the time of presentation. 54% of them had hemoglobin value less than 8 gm% and they were given blood transfusion as per requirementConclusions: Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy plays a major role in diagnosis, management and prognosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and its importance cannot be replaced by other imaging modalities.