[Gastrointestinal hemorrhage--hemorrhage from the upper digestive system].

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding represents the commonest emergency managed by gastroenterologists utilizing substantial clinical and economic resources. Manifestations of GI bleeding depend uppon its localization, magnitude and co-morbidity. Although endoscopic haemostasis has significantly improved the outcome of patients with upper GI bleeding, in some cases patients continue to bleed or rebleed after initial control requiaring early elective surgery in order to decrease mortality. Despite recent advances in, both, endoscopic and surgical therapy, mortality rates have remained essentialy unchanged at 6-15%.