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Aetiology of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients Presenting at St. Dominic Hospital, Akwatia, Ghana

Category ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Authors AdwoaAgyeiNkansah, Amoako Duah, Maite Alfonso Romero
Abstract Background: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is one of the commonest medical emergencies worldwide associated with significant morbidity and mortality and high medical care cost. Worldwide morbidity and mortality associated with UGIB ranges from 6-13%. There are scanty data available about the causes of UGIB from peripheral hospitals in Ghana. Aim and Objectives: The study was to determine the common causes of upper GI bleeding in Saint Dominic Hospital, Akwatia a district hospital in Ghana. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted at endoscopy unit of St. Dominic Hospital. Patients with symptoms of UGIB referred for Gastroscopy were selected and endoscopic findings recorded. Results: Out of the 400 patients who underwent gastroscopy during the study period, 107 (26.8%) had upper GI bleeding. 65 (60.8%) of them were males and the median age was 54 years. Approximately 50% of the patients (57, 53.3%) had only haematemesis. The commonest cause of bleeding was peptic ulcer disease, 40 (37.4%). Conclusion: Peptic ulcer disease was the common cause of UGIB at the St. Dominic Hospital, Akwatia, Ghana.
Year 2019
Month April
Volume 8
Issue 2
Published On 30 Apr 2019
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