HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING AN EMERGENCY ROOM TEST

Abstract

In spite of the great advances in the procedures investigating upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, in a good number of cases, the differentiation between bloody vomit indicating upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and red vomit represents a problem, especially in the emergency cases, as the diagnosis may be reached only after extensive and costly investigations of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Rational investigations of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding demands the fewest, least invasive investigations, especially in unequipped medical units, to establish the diagnosis. Reliable initial determination of the site ofhemorrhage immediately focuses attention on the relevant part of gastrointestinal tract, so restricting the number of investigations required. Our study was conducted on 50 subjects; 40 patients and 10 control subjects, presenting with red vomit, to evaluate hydrogen peroxide test as a simple, cheap test to differentiate between red, and bloody vomit in upper gastrointestinal bleeding,