TY  - JOUR
T1  - EStablishing the site of gastrointestinal bleeding
AU  - Blackstone MO, Kirsner JB
Y1  - 1979/02/09
N1  - 10.1001/jama.1979.03290320041030
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 599
EP  - 599
VL  - 241
IS  - 6
N2  - Traditionally, aspiration of gastric contents for blood is employed as the initial step in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.1 A positive result is usually viewed as indicating a bleeding site proximal to the ligament of Treitz, while negative aspirate implies a lower (small bowel or colon) site. Despite its intuitive correctness, the clinical value of this test never has been fully established. The article by Luk and colleagues, which appears elsewhere (p 576) in The Journal, attempts to do this. In their study the outcome in 1,190 patients who had gastric aspiration performed was analyzed as to the site of bleeding ultimately determined. All patients in the study had undergone a vigorous attempt to define the site of bleeding. Upper GI endoscopy was employed in almost all patients and was the initial procedure in those having a gastric aspirate positive for blood (gross blood or guaiac-positive material). Sigmoidoscopy,
SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.1979.03290320041030
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1979.03290320041030
ER  -