Emergency Care for Upper Gastro-intestinal Bleeding

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Duat, a specialist with over 40 years of experience in diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal conditions at the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Hanoi French Hospital, explains: “Gastrointestinal bleeding occurs when blood escapes the blood vessels and flows into the digestive tract, with symptoms such as vomiting blood or passing black or bloody stools.”

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a serious condition, with increased mortality risks if bleeding recurs, intervention is delayed, management is insufficient, or underlying conditions like gastrointestinal cancers are present. Diagnosis and treatment must adhere to international standards to ensure optimal and long-term outcomes for patients.

Symptoms of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding:

• Vomiting blood
• Black or bloody stools
• Acute blood loss symptoms, including pale skin, pallid mucosa, potential shock, rapid pulse, and low blood pressure

At Hanoi French Hospital, comprehensive emergency care is provided for upper GI bleeding, including hemostatic, resuscitation, and root-cause treatments. Upon admission, patients undergo immediate assessments for:

• Blood loss severity and hemodynamic status to determine treatment needs.
• Blood tests, such as RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood type, platelet count, and coagulation tests.
• In cases of shock, regular monitoring of pulse, blood pressure, and hematocrit levels is conducted to track progress and treatment efficacy.
• Individualized resuscitation measures based on the patient’s condition and blood loss status.

Early Endoscopy for Hemostatic Treatment: Once stabilized, patients undergo early endoscopy for targeted interventions:

• For ruptured esophageal varices, treatments include IV Octreotide or Terlipressin, followed by endoscopic procedures such as sclerotherapy or rubber band ligation.
• For peptic ulcers, hemostatic injections or clipping are applied. If these fail, surgical intervention is considered.

Post-stabilization, patients receive a personalized treatment plan, including preventive measures like managing portal hypertension in cirrhosis or eradicating H. pylori for peptic ulcers. Studies show that H. pylori eradication reduces recurrent bleeding in peptic ulcer patients from 35.7–100% to 0–11%.

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Why Choose Hanoi French Hospital?

Hanoi French Hospital offers:

• 24/7 emergency care with experienced doctors and nurses.
• Leading specialists in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, trained to Western standards.
• Comprehensive treatment aligned with WHO and World Gastroenterology Organization guidelines.
• Advanced endoscopy equipment with NBI high-resolution technology for accurate detection.
• Fully equipped Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging Departments for emergency cases.

For additional information about the Emergency Department services at HFH, please contact the Hotline: 024 3574 1111.