Surgical experience with endoscopy in upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage

During 1988-1994 at the Second Surgical Clinic in Brno and in the surgical department of the Hospital of Merciful Brethren in Valtice a total of 5200 fibroscopic examinations were made incl. 560 on account of haemorrhage into the upper gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of fibroscopy was to detect sites of haemorrhage and treat them, or to establish at least the level of the haemorrhage. Visualization of the source was achieved in 90%, the level was assessed in 7.5% and failure was recorded in 2.5%. By treatment of the source of haemorrhage primary haemostasis was achieved in 83.32%, definitive haemostasis in 77.01%. Endoscopy of acute haemorrhage into the GIT is at present the method of choice when resolving these conditions. Classical procedures involving supplementation of the blood volume and waiting for spontaneous haemostasis should be considered as "non lege artis" procedures.