Open AccessLess frequent causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding
Author(s) -
Predrag Sabljak,
Dejan Veličković,
Dejan Stojakov,
Miloš Bjelović,
Keramatollah Ebrahimi,
Bratislav Špica,
Vladimir Šljukić,
Predrag Peško
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
acta chirurgica iugoslavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2406-0887
pISSN - 0354-950X
DOI - 10.2298/aci0701119s
Subject(s) - medicine , angiodysplasia , upper gastrointestinal bleeding , gastric antral vascular ectasia , mallory–weiss syndrome , stomach , hemostasis , surgery , peptic , esophageal varices , tears , gastroenterology , endoscopy , argon plasma coagulation , portal hypertension , peptic ulcer , cirrhosis
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding represents emergency which despites modern advances in treatment still carry substantial mortality. Mortality remained relatively constant in the last 50 years at approximately 12%. Peptic ulcers remain the most common cause of upper GI bleeding and account approximately 50% of all cases. Next leading causes are esophageal and gastric varices, and gastroduodenal erosions. Mallory Weiss tears, angiodysplasia and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE)-Watermelon stomach are less frequent but important causes of upper GI bleeding that contribute substantially to the overall morbidity and mortality. Recognition of such lesions is crucial to provide effective hemostasis. In most cases endoscopic therapy is procedure of choice which significantly improved the outcome of patients. In cases where endoscopic hemostasis is not effective, or patients rebleed after initial control surgical therapy may be required. This article will review recent advances in diagnosis and therapy of upper GI bleeding caused by Mallory Weiss tears, angiodysplasia or Watermelon stomach.