Clinical and endoscopic evaluation of haemetemesis

ABSTRACT

A study was undertaken at the Medical Intensive Care Unit of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC], Karachi to assess the efficacy of oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy in 650 patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Clinical examination supplemented by endoscopic evaluation was helpful in identifying a cause in 91 percent of cases. Oesophageal varices, peptic ulcers and superficial mucosal lesions were the leading causes of haemetemesis occurring in 41 percent, 26 percent and 20 percent of cases respectively. Clinical diagnosis is very erratic and most of the cases presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding must be subjected to oesophago-gastroduedenoscopy