Upper GI Bleed, Etiology, Role of Endoscopy in Rural Population of Punjab

Haematemesis and malena are the two most important symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding is due to a peptic ulcer. In this paper, the authors research the cause of bleeding. Contrary to previous studies, results favor esophageal varices, e.g., alcoholism or cirrhosis liver post necrotic, as the most common cause of bleeding rather than a peptic ulcer. The authors’ study is based on an observational retrospective protocol with records of 50 consecutive patients with GI bleeding, attending the emergency room from February 2007 until September 2009. Results show that the treatment of UGI bleeding has made important progress since the introduction of emergency endoscopy and endoscopic techniques for haemostasis. The application of specific protocols significantly decreases rebleeding and the need for surgery, whereas mortality is still high. The data highlight the decreasing trend of peptic ulcer as the sole cause of bleeding, as shown in previous literature, ascertaining that varices are now the most common variable. Harneet Singh Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research and Center for Public Health Informatics, India DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-0282-3.ch012