The double contrast barium meal in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

One hundred and seven patients admitted to a small general hospital with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding have been examined by the double contrast barium meal technique. The presumed bleeding site was identified in 75 cases (70%). Twenty-eight patients showed radiological evidence of recent or active bleeding. These were all examined within 24 h of the bleed and 18 (64%) continued to bleed or had a further bleed whereas of 79 patients who did not show radiological signs of recent or active bleeding only 10(13%) continued to bleed or had a further bleed. The radiological features of recent or active bleeding seen on the double contrast barium meal are: 1, Blood clot in an ulcer or adherent to a recently bleeding lesion. 2. An artery in the base of an ulcer. 3. Active bleeding during the course of the examination seen as a dynamic alteration or disturbance in the barium as it flows over the bleeding site.