RESUMEN
One hundred and forty two [142] consecutive patients with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage [UGIH], admitted to Menia University Hospital over the 3-year period 1989-91, were studied prospectively. The mean age was 41 years, the male: female ratio was 3:1, causes of bleeding were most common oesophageal varices causing 43% [61 cases], followed by bleeding duodenal peptic ulcers 21.1% [30 cases], and 8.5% [12 cases] from gastric ulcer, drug induced bleeding lesions forming 7.1% [10 cases]; [9 cases] had erosive mucosal gastritis 6.3%, and [20 cases] 14% had additional causes. Forty three patients [30%] had operations with an overall mortality of [14%] 6 cases, while 22 cases [22%] of the unoperated patients died. The prognosis of the oesophageal varices depends on liver function, with mortality 19%. While the overall mortality in the peptic ulcer group is low [7%], the presence of stigmata of recent haemorrhage is associated with a high risk of rebleeding