Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Acute Conditions

Emergencies of the upper gastrointestinal tract can be particularly challenging. The aim of this chapter is to provide doctors and surgeons with practical skills for the management of adult patients affected by esophageal-stomach-duodenal emergencies. In particular, this section deals with upper GI bleeding, perforation, ingestion of foreign bodies and caustics. The basis is obviously a knowledge of the principles of anatomy as well as the pathophysiology of the main injuries of the upper gastrointestinal tract, in particular bleeding, perforation, caustic or alkaline ingestion, and foreign body ingestion.