Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

Picture the scene…

A paramedic crew pre-alert a patient who has had a 3 day history of black tarry stools and ‘coffee ground vomiting’

Learning Objective

To understand the presentation and immediate management of patients presenting to the ED with upper GI bleeding.

RCEM Curriculum

CAP16 – Haematemesis and malaena

Task 1 – Knowledge

Task 2 – Podcast

Task 3 – Discuss

Task 4 – Summary

Task 5 – Reflect

References and Further Reading

  1. 1
    Skinner J. Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. RCEM Learning. 2018; published online Jan 13. https://www.rcemlearning.co.uk/reference/upper-gastrointestinal-haemorrhage/#1571744062306-b0b0d3c9-0a4f (accessed June 10, 2020).
  2. 2
    Ioannou GN, Doust J, Rockey DC. Terlipressin for acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003; published online Jan 20. DOI:10.1002/14651858.cd002147.
  3. 3
    Lee YY. Role of prophylactic antibiotics in cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding. WJG 2014; : 1790.
  4. 4
    NICE Guidance on Upper GI Bleeding (CG141). NICE. 2016; published online Aug 25. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg141/chapter/1-guidance (accessed June 10, 2020).
  5. 5
    Vreeburg EM, Terwee CB, Snel P, et al. Validation of the Rockall risk scoring system in upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Gut 1999; : 331–5.