GASTROINTESTINAL-BLEEDING OF UNDERDETERMI NED SOURCE

Among 174 patients admitted for acute gastrointestinal bleeding the so urce of breeding remained undetermined in 19 (10,9%) despite standard diagnostic workup, We show that an unknown source of acute gastrointes tinal breeding is not a risk factor with regard to the in hospital out come: there was no difference in the number of in-hospital days, of PR BC transfused or of surgical interventions; none of these patients die d. While patient characteristics regarding mean age and sex distributi on likewise did not differ, there was a significantly higher percentag e of patients on NSAIDs or oral anticoagulants among those whose sourc e of bleeding could not be found (80 vs 42%; p = 0.002). The clinical follow-up of the patients with undetermined source of bleeding reveals gastro intestinal pathology in a considerable proportion (18%); it ca lls for close follow-up of these patients after discharge.