Which department should I go to for upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
Updated on September 05, 2024
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The upper gastrointestinal system primarily refers to bleeding from the digestive system above the Treitz ligament. Therefore, if there is acute massive bleeding in the digestive tract, patients may present with symptoms such as vomiting blood and black stools. If the bleeding is significant and blood volume rapidly decreases, it can cause acute peripheral circulatory disorders, and may even be life-threatening. The causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding include long-standing conditions like peptic ulcers, rupture of esophagogastric varices, acute erosive hemorrhagic gastritis, and stomach cancer, among others. If upper gastrointestinal bleeding occurs, patients should actively seek medical attention at major hospitals' gastroenterology departments, undergo relevant examinations, and receive prompt treatment.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Upper gastrointestinal bleeding, vomiting blood, amount of bleeding.

Patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding may experience vomiting blood once the stomach bleeding reaches more than 200 mL. The occurrence of vomiting blood also indicates a significant amount of bleeding. Therefore, patients who experience vomiting blood need to actively seek medical attention as soon as possible at the gastroenterology department of a reputable hospital. If the condition permits, a thorough examination with an electronic gastroscope should be carried out promptly to determine the cause, location, and amount of the bleeding. Endoscopic hemostasis can also be performed at the same time. If necessary, oral or intravenous medications that suppress gastric acid secretion can be administered, along with other comprehensive treatments.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Black stool is bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Black stools are generally caused by upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, which can stem from several reasons: The first one is peptic ulcer, including stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers; The second is bleeding caused by varices rupturing in the esophagus or stomach due to liver cirrhosis; The third is acute gastric mucosal injury, for example, gastric bleeding caused by orally taken non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; The fourth is gastric hemorrhage caused by gastric cancer. No matter what causes the upper gastrointestinal bleeding, one should promptly visit a hospital, undergo a gastroscopy to determine the cause, and receive timely rescue and treatment. Moreover, during the treatment period, one cannot eat while experiencing gastric bleeding, and must fast until the bleeding stops, after which a liquid diet can be introduced, followed by a transition to a semi-liquid diet.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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What medicine is used to stop bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract?

Pharmacological treatment for upper gastrointestinal bleeding may include aggressive fluid resuscitation to improve symptoms of hypovolemia, transfusion of red blood cells when necessary to correct anemia, and the use of acid-suppressive and gastroprotective medications to prevent further bleeding. Common causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding include gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, and even vascular anomalies. Therefore, in the early stages, it is advisable to choose acid-suppressive and gastroprotective medications to treat common causes such as gastric ulcers and gastritis, which lead to bleeding. The main symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding are vomiting blood or bleeding from the bowels. In severe cases, the patient may also experience dizziness and fatigue due to low blood volume. For such patients, once the condition stabilizes, it is important to conduct routine blood tests, electrocardiography, and gastroscopy to identify the specific cause of the bleeding. Different causes require different treatment approaches. If the bleeding is suspected to be caused by a tumor, pharmacological treatment may not be very effective, and surgical intervention might be more appropriate. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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Preferred examination method for upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is very common clinically. If the patient's respiratory and circulatory systems are stable, an esophagogastroduodenoscopy can be performed to further identify the bleeding site. Of course, it is also necessary to dynamically monitor blood tests and coagulation function, and pay attention to the patient's vomiting and rectal bleeding. The clinical treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding mainly involves transfusions to replenish blood volume and conservative medical treatment for hemostasis. If conservative medical treatment is not effective, surgical intervention can be considered.

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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.