Abstract
We handled 150 cases studied by endoscopic examination within 7 days after the onset of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, who visited our hospital from 1978 to 1981. These 150 cases included 69 cases of gastric ulcer, 24 cases of hemorrhagic gastritis, 15 cases of esophago-cardial varices, 14 cases of duodenal ulcer, 8 cases of gastric cancer, 8 cases of Mallory-Weiss syndrome, 6 unknown cases, and so on.
As for the therapeutic modalities, 116 cases were treated medically, 34 cases (23%)were operated on and 13 cases, including 7 cases of esophago-cardial varices, were fatal.
We checked pulse rate, blood pressure and EKG before the examination and we examined with setting up of an I.V. line and we experienced no accident. Emergent laboratory studies disclosed decreased serum protein, leukocytosis, etc. in all the cases. A decrease in the percentage of α2 and γ-globulin and an elevation in the percentage of rod-shaped leukocytes were marked in the fatal cases.
It is re-confirmed that endoscopic examination is safe and significant in finding out the bleeding focuses in a hurry, deciding the therapeutic plans including operation and judging the patient's prognosis.
