title: Acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding--experience of a tertiary care center in southern India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Over the last few decades, epidemiologic studies from the West have shown changing trends in etiology and clinical outcomes in patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleed (NVUGIB). There are limited data from India on the current status of NVUGIB. The aim of this study therefore was to assess the etiological profile and outcomes of patients with NVUGIB at our center.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively studied all patients (≥15 years) who presented with NVUGIB over a period of 1 year. The clinical and laboratory data, details of endoscopy, and course in hospital were systematically recorded. Outcome measures assessed were rebleeding rate, surgery, and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and fourteen patients (age, ≥15 years) presented to us with NVUGIB during the study period. The mean age was 49.9 ± 16.8 years and 73.8 % were males. Peptic ulcer was the commonest cause (32.2 %) of NVUGIB. About one third of patients required endoscopic therapy. Rebleeding occurred in 8.9 % patients, surgery was required in 3.7 %, and mortality rate was 5.1 %. Rebleeding and mortality were significantly higher among inpatients developing acute NVUGIB compared to those presenting directly to the emergency room.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peptic ulcer was the most common cause of NVUGIB. Outcomes (rebleed, surgery, and mortality) at our center appear similar to those currently being reported from the West.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632 004, India.
authors.forename: Ebby George
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chacko
authors.forename: Amit Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Biju
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016558:Hemostasis, Endoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome