Etiology of haemetemesis: a study of 350 cases

ABSTRACT

To find out the etiology of Haemetemesis. Design: A prospective study of consecutive patients admitted with haemetemesis during one year from 1.1.98 to 31.12.98. Setting: Medical Intensive Care Unit, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Subject 350 patients with haemetemesis admitted to Medical 1.C.U. in 1998. Main outcome measures: Oesophageal varices as a cause of haemetemesis is on rise. Leading causes of haemetemesis are oesophageal varices 39%, peptic ulcer 24% and superficial mucosal lesions 17%. Among cirrhotics, oesophageal varices were present alone in 61.3%, with portal hypertensive gastropathy in 21.9% with peptic ulcer in 7.3%, while among non cirrhotics, peptic ulcer was present alone in 77.3 8% with oesophogeal varices in 11.90%. Oesophageal varices contribute to most cases of haemetemesis and need measures for control and prevention