The Difference between Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal Bleed

Upper GI bleeding: The upper GI tract includes the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach), stomach, and first part of the small intestine. Lower GI bleeding: The lower GI tract includes much of the small intestine, large intestine or bowels, rectum, and anus.

1. How can you tell the difference between upper and lower GI bleeding?
2. How do you know if you have upper GI bleeding?
3. Is upper or lower GI bleeding more common?
4. How do you rule out an upper GI bleed?
5. What does a lower GI bleed look like?
6. Is coffee ground emesis upper or lower GI bleed?
7. How do I know if I'm bleeding internally?
8. What are the 3 types of bleeding?
9. Is a GI bleed an emergency?
10. Does gastrointestinal bleeding go away?
11. What is the most common cause of lower GI bleeding?
12. How do you stop gastrointestinal bleeding?

How can you tell the difference between upper and lower GI bleeding?

Historically, distinction of upper GIB (UGIB)and lower GIB (LGIB) was based on the location of bleeding in relation to the ligament of Treitz. With this definition, bleeding proximal to the ligament of Treitz is categorized as an UGIB, while bleeding distal to the ligament of Treitz is categorized as a LGIB.

How do you know if you have upper GI bleeding?

Vomiting blood, which might be red or might be dark brown and resemble coffee grounds in texture. Black, tarry stool. Rectal bleeding, usually in or with stool.

Is upper or lower GI bleeding more common?

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is more common than lower gastrointestinal bleeding, 70% and 30% respectively. The upper GI tract reaches from the oropharynx to the Ligament of Treitz. The most common cause of upper GI bleeding is peptic ulcer disease.

How do you rule out an upper GI bleed?

Tests might include:

1. Blood tests. You may need a complete blood count, a test to see how fast your blood clots, a platelet count and liver function tests.
2. Stool tests. ...
3. Nasogastric lavage. ...
4. Upper endoscopy. ...
5. Colonoscopy. ...
6. Capsule endoscopy. ...
7. Flexible sigmoidoscopy. ...
8. Balloon-assisted enteroscopy.

What does a lower GI bleed look like?

Bright red blood from the anus. Bleeding can be streaks of blood or larger clots. It can be mixed in with the stool or form a coating outside the stool. If the bleeding starts further up in the lower GI tract, your child may have black sticky stool called “melena”, which can sometimes look like tar and smell foul.

Is coffee ground emesis upper or lower GI bleed?

Coffee-ground emesis is vomiting of dark brown, granular material that resembles coffee grounds. It results from upper GI bleeding that has slowed or stopped, with conversion of red hemoglobin to brown hematin by gastric acid.

How do I know if I'm bleeding internally?

Internal bleeding in your chest or abdomen

chest pain. dizziness, especially when standing. bruising around your navel or on the sides of your abdomen. nausea.

What are the 3 types of bleeding?

In general, there are 3 types of bleeding: arterial, venous, and capillary. As you might expect, they are named after the three different types of blood vessels: the arteries, veins, and capillaries. The 3 types of bleeding injuries have different characteristics. Arterial bleeding is usually the most severe.

Is a GI bleed an emergency?

Any significant bleeding into the GI tract, either vomited blood or blood through the rectum, should be evaluated in the emergency department.

Does gastrointestinal bleeding go away?

Bleeding in the digestive tract is a symptom of a problem rather than a disease itself. It usually happens due to conditions that can be cured or controlled, such as hemorrhoids. The cause of the bleeding may not be serious, but it's important for your doctor to find the source of this symptom.

What is the most common cause of lower GI bleeding?

Colonic diverticulosis continues to be the most common cause, accounting for about 30 % of lower GI bleeding cases requiring hospitalization. Internal hemorrhoids are the second-most common cause.

How do you stop gastrointestinal bleeding?

How do doctors treat GI bleeding?

1. inject medicines into the bleeding site.
2. treat the bleeding site and surrounding tissue with a heat probe, an electric current, or a laser.
3. close affected blood vessels with a band or clip.