title: [Emergency endoscopy in upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage].
abstract: The paper reports a series of 236 patients who underwent emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) (within 48 hours of hospitalisation) due to hemorrhage of the upper digestive tract. A definitive diagnosis of the of bleeding was made in 233 (98.7%) cases. In 1.3% of cases, endoscopic tests proved negative. The most frequent cause of bleeding was duodenal ulcer, followed by esophageal varices. Hemorrhage was caused in only 46.2% of 80 cirrhotic patients by the rupture of esophageal varices, whereas in the remaining 53.8% of cases the source of hemorrhage was a lesion associated to esophageal varices. Surgery was necessary in 15 patients (6.4%). The death rate within 30 days was 5.5%. In conclusion, emergency EGDS performed within 24 hours of hospitalisation is the most precise diagnostic technique for upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Specializzato in Gastroenterologia S. de Bellis, Castellana Grotte, Bari.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giorgio
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scotto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Matteo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000150:complications; D004630:Emergencies; D004724:Endoscopy; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000150:complications
vernacular_title: L'endoscopia d'urgenza nelle emorragie del tratto digestivo superiore.