Abstract

Dr. Awais Tariq*, Dr. Shanzay Hashmi and Dr. Khurram Irshad

ABSTRACT

Aim of study: The aim of this study was to determine the common etiologies of upper gastrointestinal among patients of different age groups and gender that mostly present in medical emergency of our hospital. Place and Duration: The study was done in 6 months duration from July 2017 to January 2018 at Nishtar hospital Multan, Punjab. Methodology: It was a single centered descriptive cross-sectional study. Total 120 patients were enrolled in this study. Patient presented to us in emergency with upper gastrointestinal bleeding got initial resuscitation and then followed up throughout the hospital stay. Complete history, examination and relevant investigations were noted by author on a “patients detail form”. Causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were identified by endoscopy. Patients with recurrent history of UGIB and end stage disease patients were not included in the study. Non-probability method of sampling was used. Results: Total one hundred and twenty patients were selected in the study. Out of 120 patients, 81 were male and 39 were female. Most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding was variceal cause with 47.5% (57/120) followed by peptic ulcer 23.33% (28/120) and NSAID induced gastritis 13.33% (16/120). At first presentation, 68 patients presented with melena, 31 with hematemesis and 19 with both melena and hematemesis. In this area variceal cause is more common due to high prevalence of hepatitis infection. The most common age group was 36-50 years. In 5 patients the result of endoscopy was normal, no pathology seen. Mean hemoglobin value at presentation was 6.9±1.2, mean pints of blood transfused were 2.3±1.1 and mean duartion of hospital stay was 8.5±4.6 days. 4 patients died during hospital stay. Conclusion: According to this study due to high prevalence of infectious disease like hepatitis C and B, esophageal varices is the most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in this area followed by peptic ulcer and NSAID induced gastritis.