Endoscopic and Demographic Features of Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Bitlis Province

Background and Aims: Upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage is an important cause of urgent hospital admissions and requires early diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of patients diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage in Bitlis. Materials and Methods: Patients attending the emergency department of Bitlis State Hospital for symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding between January 2014 and December 2017 were evaluated retrospectively. The clinical characteristics of these patients and the etiologic causes that could lead to bleeding were evaluated. Results: Fifty-four patients were included in the study, and most of them were male (59.3%). The most common presenting symptom was hematemesis. In all, 22.8% of patients had a history of using medications that could predispose them to a higher risk of bleeding. The mean duration of hospitalization was 5.6±3.6 days. Duodenal and gastric ulcers were the most common etiologic factors. Conclusion: The general characteristics of the patients diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage in Bitlis were compatible with related studies in our country