[Impact of red blood cells transfusion on upper gastrointestinal bleeding].

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a major digestive emergency. The compensation of hypovolemia represents the cornerstone of the initial treatment, according to international recommendations. In contrast, use of red blood cells transfusion and target hemoglobin vary considerably across different centers. The real impact of blood transfusions on the rate of rebleeding and mortality is still unknown. However, several studies suggest that transfusion may have a deleterious effect in patients with hemodynamically stable condition during upper gastrointestinal bleeding, promoting recurrent bleeding.