Will melena from upper gastrointestinal bleeding heal by itself?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on April 14, 2025
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Generally speaking, after the occurrence of black stool due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding, it is quite difficult to cure and requires active treatment measures. For example, it is necessary to perform thorough gastroscopy and under gastroscopy, endoscopic treatment can be conducted. It is also advisable to consider oral medications that inhibit gastric acid secretion and protect the gastric mucosa. Medications that inhibit gastric acid secretion include proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, and pantoprazole. Alternatively, H2 receptor antagonists such as ranitidine and famotidine can be selected. In terms of efficacy, proton pump inhibitors are generally more effective and better than H2 receptor antagonists, with fewer side effects.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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Upper digestive tract bleeding vomit color

The color of vomit in upper gastrointestinal bleeding primarily relates to the amount of bleeding and the speed of bleeding. If the patient has minor bleeding, the gastric acid may process it, resulting in the vomiting of a coffee-ground-like substance, indicating a smaller amount of bleeding. If the patient has substantial bleeding at a rapid pace, surpassing the gastric acid processing, fresh blood may often be vomited, indicating significant bleeding and a poor prognosis. After upper gastrointestinal bleeding occurs, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately. In clinical settings, patients are usually given proton pump inhibitors and somatostatin analog drugs to stop the bleeding, and it is vital to promptly conduct a thorough gastroscopy to ascertain the causes of gastrointestinal bleeding and so forth.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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What are the characteristic manifestations of upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

The clinical manifestations of upper gastrointestinal bleeding mainly depend on the amount and speed of the patient's bleeding. Clinically, vomiting blood and black stool are characteristic manifestations of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Secondly, if the patient has a large amount of bleeding, it can lead to a rapid decrease in circulating blood volume and subsequent peripheral circulatory failure. Patients may experience dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, and even fainting. At this point, it is crucial to actively replenish blood volume and stop the bleeding, and provide symptomatic treatment. Thirdly, blood tests can reveal signs of hemorrhagic anemia in patients. Fourthly, after gastrointestinal bleeding, patients generally develop a low fever within 24 hours, which must be actively managed.

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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 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 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.