Endoscopic Treatment of Gastrointestinal Bleedings

Digestive endoscopy represents an essential diagnostic and curative tool used when presented with a suspicion of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Its role is not only confined to primary detection but also to establishing the severity of a lesion and providing relevant information regarding its risk of bleeding. New endoscopic techniques, accessories and compounds make the minimally invasive treatment suitable for a vast array of lesion types. Our main goal in this chapter is to summarize the main presentation of lesions at risk of bleeding, briefly classify them according to the gastrointestinal segment and finally detail the endoscopic treatment options currently available. Therapeutic endoscopy significantly reduced mortality from upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Most common causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding are: colon cancer, diverticulosis, colon polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, hemorrhoids, anal fissures and angiodysplasia. Digestive bleeding diagnosis strategy requires rapid clarification of the following elements: recognition of gastrointestinal bleeding, specifying the location of bleeding, assessment of its severity, specification of the etiology of bleeding and patient’s risk factors. Early diagnosis of the cause of bleeding and endoscopic hemostasis reduced the need for hospitalization, blood transfusions and emergency surgery.