Occult gastrointestinal bleeding

Article Abstract:

Hidden bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract is often first detected with a test for blood in a stool sample. Patients must typically lose 150 milliliters of blood daily into the stomach to produce darkened stools. Smaller amounts of blood, as might result from bleeding ulcers, colonic polyps, colon cancers, intestinal vascular disorders, and other causes, may only be detected with stool testing. Although the finding of hidden blood in a stool sample does not definitively diagnose any disease, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy to examine the lower intestinal tract is usually undertaken to rule out colon cancer or other diseases. An upper gastrointestinal examination may follow if a stomach ulcer or other condition is suspected.

United States, Colorectal cancer, Feces

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Relative frequency of upper gastrointestinal and colonic lesions in patients with positive fecal occult-blood tests

Article Abstract:

A significant proportion of people who have fecal occult blood may have lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The fecal occult blood test was considered unreliable in the detection of upper gastrointestinal tract lesions. Researchers gave colonoscopies to 248 people who tested positive for fecal occult blood. Almost half had lesions and 71 lesions were in the upper gastrointestinal tract compared to 54 in the lower tract. Gastritis and ulcers were the most common lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Colonoscopy

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Gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage

Article Abstract:

The causes, prevention, and treatment of bleeding gastroesophageal varices is reviewed. Varices are enlarged blood vessels that can bleed repeatedly despite treatment. Drugs and surgery are the most common treatments.

Care and treatment, Gastrointestinal bleeding, Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, Esophageal varices

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