Gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly

Among patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding, older age is associate d with an increased rate of comorbidity, greater medication use, and atypic al clinical presentations. The aging of the population makes the evaluation and management of gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly a special and i ncreasingly common clinical challenge. The unique features and common cause s of upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly are reviewed. Important management issues considered include hemodynamic resuscitation; anticoagulation; and medical, surgical, and endoscopic therapy.