Management of haematemesis and melaena.
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding remains a common medical emergency with high morbidity and mortality. High risk patients are best managed in specialised units. Endoscopy is the procedure of choice for diagnosis and haemostatic therapy of peptic ulcers, reducing deaths and the probability of rebleeding, as well as the need for surgery; for acute variceal bleeding, pharmacotherapy followed by endoscopic ligation is recommended.
Roberts
S K
SK
Department of Gastroenterology, The Alfred Healthcare Group, Melbourne, VIC. sroberts@ozonline.com.au
Dudley
F J
FJ
D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006396:Hematemesis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008551:Melena / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012151:Resuscitation