EMERGENCY COLONOFIBERSCOPY FOR LOWER GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING

Abstract

Emergency colonoscopy for lower gastrointestinal bleeding was performed in 78 patients consisting of 36 of general medical service and 42 of emergency service. The causes of bleeding were diagnosed correctly by emergency colonoscopic examination in 57 cases (73%). When colonoscopic examination was performed earliar, the accuracy of final diagnosis was elevated. When the bleeding sources can not be detected by the initial colonoscopic examination, the superior mesenteric arteriography was the most effective prosedure for the diagnosis of massive bleeding, and barium enema study on the same day was the second prosedure for a small amount of bleeding. When the insertion of colonoscope was made up to the splenic flexure of the large bowel, 85 percent of lower gastrointestinal bleeding cases was correctly diagnosed in the present study.