Gastrointestinal bleeding

Description

Gastrointestinal bleeding or stomach, intestine bleeding. Digestive tract starts with the mouth and include esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, and ends with the anus. A bleeding may occur any where on this path and may be visible in the vomited content or in the stool. The bleeding can be slow and persistant and can cause anemia and black stool (melena) or fast and profuse and result in the appearance of bright red blood in the stool and dizziness. Fastblleding of digestive tract may be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Slow bleeding of small amount of blood should not cause any symptoms. When the symptoms are present, they include: blood vomiting, vomiting material that resembles coffee grounds, blood in the stool (dark stool-melena or fresh red blood), weakness, dizziness, faint or abdominal pain.

Overview

Anamnesis and physical examination will be done. Other tests that are required to determine the extent of disease include:gastric lavage, rectal examination,EGDS (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), colonoscopy and blood analysis.

Tests

Complete blood count (CBC), biochemical blood analysis, CT scan, electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG), lipase and X-rays image

Additional analyses

Endoscopy, coagulation test, type and screening

Specialists

Gastroenterology, Radiology and Interventional Radiology

Therapy

Therapy depends on the location and severity of the bleeding, but can include:proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, pantoprazole), H2 blockers (ranitidine), endoscopic cauterization of bleeding, intravenous therapy, blood transfusions and antibiotics if caused by H. pylori. Surgery may be necessary if complications like perforation or uncontrolled bleeding occur.