[Intensive care in gastroenterology. 1st experiences and verification]

The history of intensive care in gastroenterology is briefly discussed. The insertion of intensive care units in the hospital scene is also examined and illustrative examples of emergency cases treated in recent years at the Rome United Hospitals gastroenterology division are presented. It is felt that centres tailored to hospital dimensions should be formed, though their cost is likely to prove a bar to their early institution. Intensive care can, it is urged, be furnished by specialist departments, provided they manage to find a new dimension in keeping with the more difficult tasks involved.