Etiology of upper gastrointestinal bleeding at HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center

Abstract

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common emergency condition in general practice. 
No data are available about the etiology of UGIB at HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the etiology of upper gastrointestinal bleeding at HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical center. We conducted a descriptive study of the patients who presented with UGIB and underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) at HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical center from June 2006 to December 2008. A total of 111 patients were enrolled. 
The patients age ranged from 15 to 88 years and male to female ratio was 2.5:1. The causes of bleeding could be detected in 98.2% by EGD. The lesions were found in the stomach, duodenum and esophagus for 71.2%, 15.3% and 11.7% of the patients, respectively. Peptic ulcer (gastric ulcer & duodenal ulcer), gastritis and variceal bleeding were the most common causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in 66.7%, 14.4% and 8.1% of the patients, respectively. EGD is a safe and useful procedure and should be used as the primary diagnostic approach in patients presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.