[Upper digestive hemorrhage as a complication of postoperative reflux gastritis]

Seven cases of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage after gastroduodenal surgery are presented; in all the cases the pyloric region had been resected or excluded. The gastritis was documented by endoscopy and/or surgery; it was located in the area proximal to the anastomosis. There were no other causes of bleeding. In five cases the hemorrhage was controlled with medical treatment. In one case it was necessary to operate on urgently. Another case was that of a recurrent hemorrhage after surgery for bleeding peptic ulcer located in the anastomosis. We emphasize the possibility of acute gross hemorrhage as a complication of reflux gastritis; the common clinical finding of previous treatment with antiinflammatory drugs; and the rarity of this lesion as the cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and as a complication of postoperative reflux gastritis.