Acute gastro-intestinal (GI) bleeding is defined as bleeding into the GI tract. GI bleeding is a common medical problem that can vary in presentation from being an insidious chronic blood loss to being potentially life threatening. Although 80% of acute GI bleeds stop spontaneously, it is essential to determine the source of bleeding and establish a diagnosis in order to attempt to prevent a recurrence and so that the most appropriate management may be given in future episodes. Also, an accurate diagnosis will allow a patient to be treated optimally for the underlying condition.
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