Lower GI bleeding: epidemiology and management - PubMed (original) (raw)

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Lower GI bleeding: epidemiology and management

Kevin A Ghassemi et al. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2013 Jul.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding from the colon is a common reason for hospitalization and is becoming more common in the elderly. While most cases will cease spontaneously, patients with ongoing bleeding or major stigmata of hemorrhage require urgent diagnosis and intervention to achieve definitive hemostasis. Colonoscopy is the primary modality for establishing a diagnosis, risk stratification, and treating some of the most common causes of colonic bleeding, including diverticular hemorrhage which is the etiology in 30% of cases. Other interventions, including angiography and surgery, are usually reserved for instances of bleeding that cannot be stabilized or allow for adequate bowel preparation for colonoscopy. We discuss the colonoscopic diagnosis, risk stratification, and definitive treatment of colonic hemorrhage in patients presenting with severe hematochezia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

Conflict of Interest Kevin A. Ghassemi and Dennis M. Jensen declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

CURE Hemostasis Research Group diagnostic approach to patients hospitalized with severe hematochezia. NSAIDs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NG nasogastric lavage, EGD esophagogastroduodenoscopy, RBC red blood cell

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