The clinical pattern and factors that influence the short term outcome of upper gastrointestinal bleeding at Kenyatta National Hospital
Abstract
A prospective study is reported of 97 consecutive patients admitted
to the Kenyatta National Hospital due to upper gastrointestinal
haemorrhage. A positive endoscopic diagnosis was made in 90 (93%)
cases. Three major causes of bleeding were found to be oesophageal
varices in 34 (35%) patients, duodenal ulceration in 17 (17.5%) patients
and superficial inflammatory lesions in 17 (17.5%) patients. Seventeen
(17.5%) patients had multiple lesions with superficial inflammatory lesions
and oesophageal varices as the commonest combination. In 86 (88%)
patients bleeding settled on simple conservative measures which included
intravenous fluids, blood transfusion and antacids. Further haemorrhage
was observed in 11 (11.3%) patients. In this study tachycardia
(>100jminute), hypotension (systolic BP < 100 mmHg) and low
haemoglobin «8 gjdl) at admission were all correlated with a poor
outcome. Bleeding varices bleeding had the worst prognosis and the
overall mortality rate was 5%.
Citation
Degree of Master of MedicinePublisher
University of Nairobi School of Medicine
Description
A dissertation submitted in part fulfillment for the
Degree of Master of Medicine of the University of
Nairobi.