ABSTRACT
Acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a medical and surgical emergency, with an associated mortality of up to 40%. GI bleeding has many causes and can be divided into upper and lower tract bleeding, according to its location in relation to the ligament of Treitz. Radiological investigations that play a part in the management of GI bleeding include computed tomography angiography (CTA), catheter angiography and radionucleotide imaging. CTA is increasingly being used as the first-line imaging modality of choice and is a useful adjunct in cases where endoscopy has failed to identify a source of bleeding. GI perforation is an emergency condition requiring urgent surgical intervention. Clinical diagnosis of the site of bowel perforation is difficult as the symptoms may be non-specific. Peptic ulcer disease is a major cause of gastroduodenal perforation, followed by necrotic or ulcerated malignancies and iatrogenic and traumatic causes.
