Gastrointestinal bleeding.

Gastrointestinal bleeding encompasses a broad array of clinical scenarios. The spectrum is diverse because of the multiple types of lesions that can cause bleeding, and because bleeding can occur from virtually anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. The fundamental tenets of management of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding include the following: (1) the patient must undergo immediate assessment and stabilization of hemodynamic status, (2) the source of bleeding must be identified, (3) active bleeding should be stopped, (4) the underlying abnormality should be treated, and (5) recurrent bleeding should be "prevented.