- What can cause bleeding
- High digestive bleeding
- Low digestive bleeding
- How the treatment is done
- Main symptoms
Gastrointestinal bleeding occurs when bleeding occurs somewhere in the digestive system, which can be classified into two main types:
- Upper gastrointestinal bleeding: when the bleeding sites are the esophagus, the stomach or the duodenum; Low digestive bleeding: when bleeding occurs in the small, large or rectum.
Generally, symptoms of lower gastrointestinal bleeding include the presence of live blood in the stool, while upper gastrointestinal bleeding includes the presence of blood that has already been digested in the stomach, which usually makes the stool darker and smells strongly.
What can cause bleeding
The causes of gastrointestinal bleeding vary according to the type:
High digestive bleeding
- Gastric ulcer; Duodenal ulcer; Esophageal-gastric varices; Cancer in the esophagus, stomach or duodenum; Perforation of the esophagus, stomach or duodenum.
Learn more about upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Low digestive bleeding
- Hemorrhoids; Anal fissure; Intestinal polyp; Crohn's disease; Diverticulosis; Bowel cancer; Bowel perforation; Intestinal endometriosis.
The most correct way to identify the cause of the hemorrhage is usually to do an endoscopy or a colonoscopy, as they allow you to observe the entire gastrointestinal tract in order to identify possible injuries. If lesions are identified, the doctor usually also takes a small sample of the affected tissue, to be analyzed in the laboratory in order to identify whether there are cancer cells.
See how the endoscopy is done and how to prepare for the exam.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for gastrointestinal bleeding varies depending on the cause of the disease, and may include blood transfusion, medication use and, in some cases, surgery.
In less severe cases, the patient will be able to follow treatment at home, but in the most severe cases when there is a large loss of blood, admission to the Intensive Care Unit may be necessary.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding may vary slightly depending on the region where the bleeding occurs.
Symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding can be:
- Vomiting with blood or blood clots, black, sticky and very bad smelling stools;
Symptoms of lower gastrointestinal bleeding can be:
- Black, sticky and very smelly stools; bright red blood in the stool.
When it comes to serious bleeding there may still be dizziness, cold sweats or fainting. If the individual has these symptoms, a consultation with a gastroenterologist is advised. Tests that can help diagnose gastrointestinal bleeding are upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or colonoscopy.
