[Gastrointestinal bleeding (introduction)].

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common and important problem for all clinicians. Patients may present with signs of bleeding, such as hematemesis, melena, or hematochezia. The patient must first be hemodynamically stabilized. Initial assessment of patients with GI bleeding includes thorough history taking and physical examination. Patients with acute bleeding or an unstable condition must be resuscitated immediately and the source of bleeding must be localized to the upper or lower GI tract. Panendoscopy is often the initial diagnostic test and is useful to stop GI bleeding, at the same time.