In 1986, 292 patients were admitted to a joint medical-surgical gastrointestinal unit with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Fourteen patients died (4.8%) a mortality considerably lower than recorded in most series. The low mortality may result from the use of a specialized gastrointestinal unit to which all patients with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage are admitted and managed with strict protocols for resuscitation, transfusion and surgery.
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