Nonsurgical Treatments for Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

Abstract

For years physicians have attempted to develop nonsurgical methods to slow or stop upper gastrointestinal bleeding. There is obvious need for a safe and effective nonoperative method for producing gastrointestinal hemostasis, especially for patients who are poor surgical risks. Gastric hypothermia by lavage of the stomach with iced water or saline is believed by many to be the safest and simplest way to reduce bleeding from the stomach. 1,2 Palmer 1 has reported that about two thirds of acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhages either are slowed or stopped by iced water in his experience with more than 1,400 patients. Some argue that lavage is unproved, but until a better method is devised, gastric cleansing and cooling likely will remain the first step in diagnostic preparation and therapy of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. In the early 1960s, hypothermia machines were placed on the market to produce gastric freezing as treatment for peptic ulcer