Mysuru:  Narayana Multispecialty Hospital has emerged as a centre of excellence for treating gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeds. It is not uncommon for us to hear of someone having vomited blood in massive volumes. Such incidents are medical emergency cases, as more the blood loss, closer the patient gets to danger.

Addressing a press conference in city recently, Dr. A.K. Satheesh Rao, Chief Gastroenterologist said that such vomit normally takes place in people who are hypertensive, and who suffer particularly from one form of high blood pressure known as portal hypertension and the patient must promptly be taken to the nearest hospital which has a reputed emergency management unit.

Camera-fitted endoscope exam normally reveals the site of bleed, and as soon as the site is known measures are taken to control it. Earlier treatment included using glue on the bleed to stop it from flowing out, but there were reports of re-bleed as the glue would come off.

With an emergent new technology camera-guided endoscopic ultrasound, one can see the exact site of bleed and the same is stopped by coiling a metal-looking ring made of Platinum. This stops the bleeding instantly and over a period closes the opening.