Gastrointestinal bleeding: Difference between revisions
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Created page with "'''Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding''' can range from occult (no symptoms, only found on occult blood test) to severe and life-threatening. It may manifest as haematemesis, haemodynamic instability, melena, or haematochezia. '''Haematemesis''' refers to vomiting of fresh blood, clotted blood, or coffee grounds-like material. '''Haematochezia''' refers to fresh or clotted blood per rectum and is typically a sign of lower GI tract bleeding, while '''melena''' refers to pass..." |
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Gastrointestinal bleeding can be '''occult''', meaning that blood is present in the stool but not visible to the naked eye. Occult, chronic, or intermittent GI bleeding can be a sign of gastrointestinal cancer. | Gastrointestinal bleeding can be '''occult''', meaning that blood is present in the stool but not visible to the naked eye. Occult, chronic, or intermittent GI bleeding can be a sign of gastrointestinal cancer. | ||
== Etiology == | == Etiology == | ||
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Melena: | Melena: | ||
* | * Peptic ulcer | ||
* | * Oesophagitis | ||
* | * Gastritis | ||
* | * Oesophageal varices | ||
* Angiodysplasia | * Angiodysplasia | ||
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* [[Colorectal carcinoma|Colorectal cancer]] | * [[Colorectal carcinoma|Colorectal cancer]] | ||
* Angiodysplasia | * Angiodysplasia | ||
== Clinical features == | == Clinical features == | ||
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== Treatment == | == Treatment == | ||
In case of acute bleeding, urgent assessment and stabilisation are crucial. If the patient is haemodynamically unstable they must be stabilised first. This involves monitoring, replacing lost fluids, and blood transfusion. Blood transfusion is indicated at haemoglobin level < 70 g/L, with a target of 70 – 90 g/L. | In case of acute bleeding, urgent assessment and stabilisation are crucial. If the patient is haemodynamically unstable they must be stabilised first. This involves monitoring, replacing lost fluids, and blood transfusion. Blood transfusion is indicated at haemoglobin level < 70 g/L, with a target of 70 – 90 g/L. | ||
Then, we should determine the source of the bleeding, stop it, treat the underlying condition, and prevent recurrent bleeding. This involves upper endoscopy. | |||
[[Category:Gastroenterology]] | [[Category:Gastroenterology]] | ||