Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage--surgical aspects

During the last decades, significant advantages have been achieved with the use of emergency endoscopy and respective hemostatic interventions. Rebleeding, however, remains a significant clinical problem, and currently re-endoscopy or surgical intervention offers advantages and disadvantages. With the discovery of Helicobacter pylori as a main causative factor behind peptic ulcer disease, a more conservative surgical approach is mandated even in situations with significant rebleeding. In case of large gastric ulcer, however, resection is a wise strategy depending on the risk of malignancy. Liver transplantation has immensely improved the prognoses for variceal bleeding in end-stage liver disease in carefully selected patients.