Upper GI haemorrhage, carrying a 10% mortality, can originate from the stomach or duodenum and may be due to peptic or duodenal ulceration. Infection with Helicobacter pylori is often found to be the cause. This gram-negative bacterium lives in epithelial walls weakening them and exposing the mucosal layer to gastric secretions which then leads to their erosion. Oesophageal varices occur secondary to liver disease. Bleeding from the lower GI tract (commencing at the jejunum), is often due to inflammatory disease such as ulcerative colitis.

Patients with GI bleeding will present with haematemesis, vomiting bright red blood or dark ‘coffee grounds’ (digested blood), particularly where problems occur higher up the GI tract. The presence of tarry malaena stools, with their characteristic offensive smell, indicates that blood has passed through the GI tract. Whilst for lower lesions, haematochezia or the passing of bright red blood from the rectum occurs. In all cases endoscopic procedures