[Severe acute intestinal hemorrhage. Value of investigation tests]

Episodes of intestinal bleeding likely to endanger vital functions require detailed etiological and topographical examination before surgical intervention. Forty-two cases of serious haemorrhage of the lower digestive system in adults were studied retrospectively. The origin of the bleeding was localized preoperatively in 37 cases (88%). Four exploratory laparotomies were carried out after etiological examination including at least digestive arteriography. Hence it was always possible to localize the source of bleeding. We found it convenient to establish the order of the complementary pretherapeutic tests by taking into account two symptoms, acute active bleeding (AAB) and haemorrhage with acute anemia (HAA).