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The current status of imaging in acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage

John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK

• Imaging is required in only a minority of patients presenting with acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage, with endoscopic examination being the primary mode of investigation.
  
• CT angiography is a powerful and sensitive imaging tool that is widely available, both in and out of hours.
  
• CT angiography, like conventional angiography, must be performed when the patient is actively bleeding.
  

The radiological assessment of patients presenting with acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage is changing with the advent of multislice CT technology. High-quality angiographic-like images can be easily produced to plan and guide therapeutic procedures. The simplicity and non-invasive nature of the technique compared with conventional angiography make CT angiography the imaging modality of choice for these patients. CT angiography is widely available, whereas conventional imaging techniques may be confined to major centres. In this article, we provide suggested criteria for which patients to image, the protocol for imaging, along with the diagnostic criteria used in our institution. Images from CT angiography, with corresponding images from conventional angiography, are included.