Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in over 16s: management

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding

The upper gastrointestinal tract is made up of the gullet (oesophagus), stomach and the first part of the small intestine (known as the duodenum). The symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding include vomiting blood or passing dark, sticky stools that contain blood.

There are several causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The most common causes are bleeding from stomach ulcers and enlarged veins (called varices).

Sudden, severe (acute) bleeding can be life-threatening and should be treated as an emergency in hospital.