Surgical Management of Massive Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

SHORTLY after World War II the therapy of acute massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage changed radically throughout this country. Repeated generous whole-blood transfusions and early feeding replaced the method of infrequent transfusions and starvation. In a number of hospitals, coupled with these innovations, a vigorous surgical attack was carried out on many patients.In the Massachusetts General Hospital the management of these cases has evolved into the following pattern. On the ward services most patients with other than trivial hemorrhage are admitted to the Surgical Service, where they remain either until surgery is carried out or until a few days have . . .