What causes upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
Updated on September 16, 2024
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The most common causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The first is hemorrhage due to peptic ulcers. The second is bleeding from ruptured esophageal and gastric varices. The third is acute erosive hemorrhagic gastritis. The fourth is bleeding caused by gastric cancer. The fifth is bleeding caused by Mallory-Weiss syndrome. After the occurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly, undergo treatments like hemostasis and blood transfusion in the hospital, and actively manage the symptoms. If necessary, a gastroscopy can be performed for endoscopic hemostasis. If not treated actively, emaciated individuals' lives may be at risk, so caution is necessary.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Emergency measures for upper gastrointestinal bleeding

The treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding temporarily focuses on fasting and symptomatic fluid replacement. If the patient exhibits significant anemia, actively transfusing red blood cells to correct the anemia is advised. It is recommended that the patient rests in bed, with heart monitoring, blood pressure, and pulse being monitored. As for medications, acid-suppressing, stomach-protecting, and hemostatic drugs may initially be chosen for observation. Once the vital signs and condition have stabilized, it is important to promptly complete routine blood tests, electrocardiograms, and gastroscopy. Among these, gastroscopy is the most crucial diagnostic method, as it can clarify the cause and nature of the bleeding, such as gastric ulcer bleeding, gastric cancer bleeding, etc. Treatment plans vary depending on the cause; if the bleeding is suspected to be due to peptic ulcer disease, medication support is generally the first choice. If the bleeding is suspected to be from malignant transformation of gastric cancer, surgical intervention is typically necessary.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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How to treat upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

After gastrointestinal bleeding, the patient should be kept in a recumbent position to rest and ensure that the airway is clear to avoid aspiration of blood due to vomiting. Close monitoring of the patient's vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing, is necessary. It is important to actively replenish blood volume, correct hypovolemic shock, and administer medications for hemostasis. Endoscopic hemostasis with a gastroscope can also be used. If conservative drug treatment is not effective, surgical treatment may be considered. Emergency treatment is essential after gastrointestinal bleeding, as delays can be life-threatening.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Upper gastrointestinal bleeding refers to bleeding that occurs in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding generally refers to bleeding caused by esophageal, gastric, and duodenal lesions, which clinically manifests most commonly as vomiting blood and blood in stools. Of course, some patients may also experience symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and chest tightness. Common causes to be aware of include inflammation, ulcers, tumors, and vascular malformations, especially gastric and duodenal ulcers which are relatively common in clinical settings. The fastest diagnosis mainly relies on gastroscopy, thus it is recommended that patients who suspect upper gastrointestinal bleeding should undergo a gastroscopy as soon as their condition stabilizes to determine the specific cause of the bleeding, such as digestive tract ulcers or even tumors. For treatment, conservative medical management is initially advised, focusing on aggressive fluid replenishment, acid suppression for gastric protection, and blood volume supplementation. Once the gastroscopy provides a clear diagnosis, the treatment plan should be promptly adjusted.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Why does pulmonary heart disease cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

Cor pulmonale is a very common type of heart disease in the clinic, mainly caused by various etiologies leading to pulmonary arterial hypertension, which results in right ventricular hypertrophy. Typically, patients with this disease have underlying pulmonary and cardiac lesions, and it mainly causes symptoms of varying degrees, such as fever, cough, expectoration, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and even difficulty breathing. Cor pulmonale is a complex disease, and if not managed properly in clinical practice, it can lead to many complications, especially respiratory failure and heart failure. This can lead to insufficient blood and oxygen supply, causing various degrees of increased pressure in the gastric vessels or vascular spasms due to hypoxia, all of which can cause patients to experience upper gastrointestinal bleeding during severe coughing, or when consuming certain foods.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Can you eat egg custard with upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

As for whether one can eat egg custard when experiencing upper gastrointestinal bleeding, it requires specific analysis of the situation. If it is during the acute phase of bleeding, such as just after vomiting blood, at that moment, one cannot eat anything and must fast. If the upper gastrointestinal bleeding has been treated and the patient has largely recovered, then they can eat egg custard, as well as other liquid or semi-liquid foods. Therefore, whether a patient with upper gastrointestinal bleeding can eat egg custard depends on the patient's condition. Once a patient experiences upper gastrointestinal bleeding, it is crucial to seek prompt medical attention at a reputable hospital's gastroenterology department to undergo thorough examinations, such as an endoscopy, to confirm the diagnosis.