Is upper gastrointestinal bleeding dangerous?

Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
Updated on September 10, 2024
00:00
00:00

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is life-threatening if the amount and speed of bleeding are substantial. Therefore, proactive and effective measures should be taken to rescue the patient. Generally, after anti-shock treatment and rapid blood volume replenishment, the patient's life can be saved. The main clinical treatment measures include the following: First, keep the patient in a recumbent position at rest, ensure that the airway is clear, and prevent blood aspiration due to vomiting. Second, during the bleeding period, it is necessary to enforce fasting, closely monitor the patient's vital signs, such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, consciousness, etc. Third, after hospitalization, it is crucial to actively replenish blood volume, such as transfusing compatible red blood cells, plasma, cryoprecipitate, etc., for fluid expansion. Drugs like proton pump inhibitors and octreotide can be used for hemostasis. If conditions permit, a gastroscopy can be performed to stop the bleeding, and surgical treatment may be considered if necessary.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
42sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is relatively common in clinical practice. Its clinical manifestations mainly relate to the volume and rate of bleeding. Clinically, patients may experience vomiting blood and black stools. If a patient has a large amount of bleeding, they may develop hemorrhagic shock or hemorrhagic anemia, presenting symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, and weakness. In such cases, patients should seek prompt treatment at a hospital, where they can receive blood transfusions, hemostasis, and volume repletion as active measures. If conditions permit, a gastroscopy can be performed to further clarify the diagnosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
36sec home-news-image

The most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is also relatively common in clinical practice, and its common causes mainly include the following points: The first is bleeding from gastric and duodenal ulcers; the second is liver cirrhosis leading to portal hypertension, which causes rupture and bleeding of gastric varices; the third is acute erosive gastritis leading to acute ulcer bleeding; the fourth category includes gastric cancer and various systemic diseases, such as bleeding caused by hematologic diseases. Therefore, if upper gastrointestinal bleeding occurs and the patient has a large amount of bleeding or rapid bleeding, they must seek medical attention immediately.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
48sec home-news-image

What causes upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
39sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
49sec home-news-image

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding clinical manifestations

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding primarily refers to bleeding above the Treitz ligament. The most common causes in clinical practice are peptic ulcers, rupture of esophagogastric varices, acute erosive hemorrhagic gastritis, gastric cancer, etc. The clinical manifestations of upper gastrointestinal bleeding mainly depend on the volume and speed of the bleeding, with the main symptoms being vomiting blood and black stools. After significant blood loss, patients may experience symptoms of peripheral circulatory failure due to reduced circulating blood volume, such as dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, cold limbs, increased heart rate, and low blood pressure. If the patient enters a state of shock, it could even be life-threatening.