according to estimates from U.S.studies, nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding results in
400,000 hospital admissions per year, costing more than $2 billion annually. It has been associated with increasing non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and the high prevalence (64 percent) of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding.
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is twice as common in men as in women and increases in prevalence with age. Despite advances in therapy, the in-hospital mortality rate remains high (13 percent) and rebleeding is common (15 percent). This article focuses on acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in adults, with a brief discussion of the management of variceal hemorrhage.