[Emergency endoscopy in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (author's transl)].

A report is given of 135 panendoscopic examinations in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The importance of endoscopy is underlined by the high incidence of erosions and potential bleeding sources, since these lesions are not detected by radiological examination. Nor is it possible by means of X-rays to distinguish actual sources of haemorrhage from potential sources. The case history is only of limited value in pin-pointing the source of the haemorrhage. Endoscopy yields the best results in the diagnosis of the cause of gastrointestinal bleeding.