Which statement is true regarding stress ulcers after severe trauma?

• A. Hypoglycemia is the initial assessment finding
• B. Gastrointestinal bleeding is the initial assessment finding
• C. Jaundice is the initial assessment finding
• D. Hypertension is the initial assessment finding

Answer: (B)

When the body undergoes severe trauma, the gastric mucosa can suffer from reduced blood flow and a surge of stress hormones, leading to stress-related mucosal damage. This causes erosions and ulcers in the stomach or proximal small intestine, and the most important clinical consequence is upper GI bleeding. So GI bleeding is the best statement because it directly reflects the major complication of stress ulcers in this setting, often presenting as hematemesis, melena, or a fall in hemoglobin.

Other listed findings aren’t typical initial manifestations of stress ulcers. Hypoglycemia isn’t a defining feature of these ulcers; jaundice points to liver or biliary issues; and hypertension, while sometimes seen in acute trauma, is not the characteristic sign of stress-related gastric mucosal injury.