Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding refers to hemorrhage in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The anatomic cut-off for upper GI bleeding is the ligament of Treitz, which connects the fourth portion of the duodenum to the diaphragm near the splenic flexure of the colon.

Upper GI bleeds are considered medical emergencies, and require admission to hospital for urgent diagnosis and management. Due to advances in medications and endoscopy, upper GI hemorrhage is now usually treated without surgery.

Read more about Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding:  Presentation, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Epidemiology

Famous quotes containing the words upper and/or bleeding:

    Give me the islands of the upper air,
    all mountains
    and the towering mountain trees.
    Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)

    its crumbled yellow cup
    and pale bleeding lips
    fading to white
    at the rim
    of each bruised and heart-
    shaped petal.
    John Montague (b. 1929)