Aims
The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, endoscopic, and outcome-related characteristics of UGIB.
Methods
We conducted a prospective, descriptive, single-center study at Bab El Oued University Hospital between January 2023 and August 2025. All patients admitted to the emergency units for overt upper gastrointestinal bleeding and referred for upper endoscopy were included. Clinical, biological, endoscopic, therapeutic, and outcome data were collected and analyzed using SPSS 23.0.
Results
A total of 281 patients were included, of whom 57.3% were men, with a mean age of 65.50 ± 16.16 years. The main comorbidities were portal hypertension (48.2%), ischemic heart disease (22.5%), and end-stage renal disease (17.4%). Anticoagulant therapy was documented in 21.1% and antiplatelet use in 3.9% of cases.
UGIB presented as isolated hematemesis (32.4%), isolated melena (37.7%), hematemesis combined with melena (21.7%), melena with hematochezia (5.7%), and massive hematochezia (2.1%). The mean Glasgow-Blatchford score was 10.56 ± 4.04. Endoscopy revealed: peptic gastroduodenal ulcer disease( 33.3%), gastroesophageal variceal rupture(26.9%), ulcerative esophagitis (16.5%) , neoplasia(5.8%) ,angiodysplasia( 5.4%) ,mallory-Weiss syndrome( 4%) ,erosive gastritis ( 7.1%), dieulafoy’s lesion( 1.3%) ,GAVE(0.6%) and no lesion identified ( 9.3%)
A blood transfusion was required in 64.8% of patients. Endoscopic hemostasis was performed in 25.6%, including band ligation (21.8%), biological glue (2.5%), APC (10.1%), adrenaline injection (1.3%), and hemostatic clips (2.5%). Surgical intervention was necessary in 1.13% of cases. During hospitalization, rebleeding occurred in 8.4% of patients, and mortality was 2.1%.
Conclusions
In our experience, peptic ulcer disease and esophageal variceal rupture remain the leading causes of UGIB. Despite a low rate of surgical intervention and a relatively low in-hospital mortality, the rebleeding rate remains significant. These findings highlight the need for early, optimized management and further studies to identify predictive factors for recurrence