[Acute gastrointestinal hemorrhages]

Abstract

In patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding, initial management includes emergency cares to restore or maintain circulatory stability, while the endoscopic examinations often determine the origin of bleeding. The most recent advances in this management concern early administration of proton pump inhibitors in bleeding ulcers, early administration of vasoactive drugs in patients with acute bleeding related to portal hypertension and the development of endoscopic therapy reducing the need for surgery. In all cases, an efficient collaboration between emergency physicians, gastroenterologist and surgeon is needed.