title: A prospective comparative trial between early endoscopy and radiology in acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
abstract: A prospective comparative trial is reported between the results of early endoscopy and barium meal examinations in 150 patients admitted with acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. One hundred and thirty-eight patients underwent both investigations within 24 hours of admission. Emergency endoscopy accurately identified the source of haemorrhage in 86% of patients and emergency radiology identified the source in 51%. Misleading positive reports were given endoscopically in 3% and by barium meal in 8%. The identification of the source of haemorrhage was possible in 126 patients (91%) by the use of both methods. Emergency endoscopy is shown to be superior to emergency barium meal examination, but the examinations are complementary and both should be used for these patients.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004724:Endoscopy; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging