Gastrointestinal bleeding. Advances in the management of gastrointestinal bleeding.
The management of patients with major gastrointestinal haemorrhage remains a significant challenge. While technological advances have certainly occurred and will continue, it is likely that greater benefit will accrue from the application of simple measures than by any of these new techniques. For example, the concentration of these patients into a single unit dealing with this condition will probably lead to a greater reduction in the overall mortality rate than the application of laser photocoagulation, electrocoagulation, or any other of the methods described above. Finally, a wider recognition of the factors that lead to a poor prognosis following surgery (which remains the final management for most patients) and how they may be prevented should produce a reduction in the mortality rate.
D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000628:therapy; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis