ABSTRACT
Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding may prove to be the final medical problem in a person’s life or it only may be a sign of an otherwise transient, one time insult to the esophageal, gastric, or duodenal mucosa. There is general agreement among gastroenterologists and surgeons that the acutely bleeding patient is better served if those responsible for his care obtain an early, accurate diagnosis of the bleeding lesion. The need for prompt diagnosis has become more logical and appropriate with the development of nonsurgical, transendoscopic therapeutic measures that appear safe and effective in stopping bleeding from certain upper gastrointestinal lesions. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding may present to the physician under almost any situation and in any type of specialty practice. In most instances, the reason for the patient’s presentation to the medical facility upper gastrointestinal bleeding either will be obvious or strongly suggested by the circumstances.
