Abstract

RIVAS, Adrianys; GIL, Carolina; RAMIREZ, Zulma  and  LEDEZMA, Julio. Características clínicas y terapéuticas de los pacientes que ingresaron con diagnóstico de hemorragia digestiva superior, en el hospital central de Maracay, Edo. Aragua-Venezuela. 2001-2005. Gen [online]. 2009, vol.63, n.1, pp.25-28. ISSN 0016-3503.

Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding (UGB) is the most important and serious emergency in the area of Gastroenterology. In spite of the great advances in endoscopic and surgical techniques, the mortality rate has remained invariable. Gastro-duodenal ulcers are the most frequent cause. The preliminary approach is medical. The value of Upper Digestive Endoscopy is unlimited, it diagnoses and locates the lesion, allowing treatment procedures and permitting a prognosis assessment (re - bleeding and mortality). Objective: To analyze clinical manifestations, etiology and therapeutic handling of patients with UGB admitted to the HCM during 2001-2005. Methods: Retrospective- Descriptive Study to clinically characterize the patients with a diagnosis of UGB at the HCM during 20001-2005. Results: 223 cases were considered, finding predominance in the 61-80 age group (38%), males (63%), gastroduodenal ulcers (37%) as the most frequent cause, melena (49%) as clinical manifestation, and 64% had a personal pathological background, 15% used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), with an average hospital stay of 4 days and 1 blood transfusion per bleeding event. Conclusion: UGB occurred more frequently between the fifth and the sixth decade, in males, associated with base pathologies. They were handled through a conservative therapeutic approach.

Keywords : Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding; Medical/Surgical Practice.