Endoscopic Hemostasis

Bleeding of varying severity and intensity can occur throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The various bleedings are differentiated according to the location of their origin (upper, middle, and lower gastrointestinal bleeding). The upper GI tract (UGIT) extends from the esophagus to the Papilla Vateri. A middle gastrointestinal bleeding (MGIB) is said to occur when the source is between the Papilla Vateri and the terminal ileum. The lower GI bleeding (LGIB)—from the rectum to the terminal ileum—can usually be treated by colonoscopy. Anatomically (old nomenclature), an upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is referred to when it is located proximal to the Treitz’s ligament, the LGIB, on the other hand, is by definition located distal to the Treitz’s ligament and extends from the duodenojejunal flexure to the anus.