Clinical Pearl of the Day: Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Clinical Pearl of the Day: Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a symptom of a disorder in the digestive tract.

Insight:

• The blood often appears in stool or vomit but isn't always visible, though it may cause the stool to look black or tarry.
• The level of bleeding can range from mild to severe and can be life-threatening.
• Symptoms may include vomiting blood, black or tarry stool, rectal bleeding, lightheadedness, and fainting.
• Causes of upper GI bleeding include peptic ulcer, tears in the lining of the throat, or esophagitis.
• Causes of the lower GI bleeding include diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, tumors, colon polyps, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and proctitis.
• Diagnosis may include blood test, stool test, upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, and imaging tests.
• Treatment may include IV proton pump inhibitors, as well as stopping the source of the bleeding.

Sources:

• Gastrointestinal bleeding - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
• gi bleeding - Google Search