Radiology and endoscopy in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding presents diagnostic challenges.
• Accurate localization of the bleeding source is vital for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic efficacy of radiology and endoscopy in identifying bleeding sites in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
• To evaluate the concordance between radiological, endoscopic, and surgical findings.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 112 patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Assessment of bleeding site detection rates for radiology (barium-meal) and endoscopy.
• Comparison of findings with surgical outcomes.

Main Results:

• Radiology detected the bleeding site in 61.5% of cases; endoscopy in 57%.
• Agreement between surgical and radiological findings was 84%; between surgical and endoscopic findings was 65%.
• Each modality identified lesions missed by the other.

Conclusions:

• Radiology and endoscopy are complementary tools for diagnosing upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Both methods should be utilized when initial examinations are inconclusive.
• Combined use enhances the detection of actively bleeding lesions, particularly with multiple potential sources.