What is good to eat for upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
Updated on February 07, 2025
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In the acute phase of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, it is recommended that the patient does not consume food and the bleeding situation is observed. Once the condition stabilizes, a liquid diet can be initiated, which may include water, soups, and porridge. Common causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding include gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, vascular malformations, inflammation, and more. Treatment varies depending on the cause; for gastric and duodenal ulcers, medication is generally an option. If the bleeding is due to vascular malformations or tumors, endoscopic treatment or surgical intervention may be necessary. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is relatively common clinically, typically presenting with symptoms of vomiting blood and bloody stools. Significant bleeding can also lead to symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, and chest tightness due to low blood volume. Diagnostic procedures mainly include complete blood count, stool tests, electrocardiograms, and crucially, gastroscopy, which is essential for identifying the specific cause of the bleeding.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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The most common symptom of upper gastrointestinal bleeding

The most common symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding mainly include: vomiting blood, black stools, or symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, and fatigue, and even hypovolemic shock and hypovolemic anemia, etc. Therefore, when gastrointestinal bleeding occurs, if the patient has a large amount of bleeding and the bleeding is rapid, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly, to administer fluid replenishment, volume expansion, and blood transfusion to replenish blood volume, along with symptomatic treatment such as medication and endoscopic hemostasis. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical treatment may be considered to avoid life-threatening risks.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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Is upper gastrointestinal bleeding easy to treat?

I can only say that most upper gastrointestinal bleeding can be treated. Common issues such as gastric and duodenal ulcers, complex ulcers, and bleeding caused by acute gastric mucosal lesions can be managed with intravenous or oral administration of proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, etc., combined with hemostatic drugs and dietary control, often achieving satisfactory therapeutic effects. Cases like bleeding from esophagogastric varices due to liver cirrhosis may require endoscopic sclerotherapy or banding, and sometimes surgery, but recurrent bleeding can occur. Bleeding caused by gastrointestinal tumors requires treatment of the primary disease and often has a poor prognosis. Additionally, bleeding from the gastroduodenal artery, which is severe and urgent, can be addressed with surgical intervention if treatments like endoscopic electrocoagulation are ineffective.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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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.

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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 Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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Is upper gastrointestinal bleeding dangerous?

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.