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Gastrointestinal bleeding
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Gastrointestinal bleeding is blood lost somewhere along the digestive tract, the long pathway that runs from the esophagus to the anus. Keep this in mind: it is not a disease in itself but a symptom of an underlying disease.
To locate it, doctors use a landmark along that pathway, the ligament of Treitz, which holds up the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. Bleeding above that landmark is upper bleeding; bleeding below it is lower bleeding. It is like a leaking pipe: what you see depends on the section.
Upper bleeding usually shows up as hematemesis, which is vomiting blood, or as melena. Melena is black, tar-like stool with a strong odor that typically comes from digestive enzymes and gut bacteria acting on the hemoglobin in the blood. Lower bleeding more often shows up as hematochezia, which is bright red blood from the rectum.
In brief
Gastrointestinal bleeding can come from any segment, from the esophagus to the anus; it is not a disease but a symptom of one.
The ligament of Treitz, which suspends the duodenum, separates upper from lower bleeding: upper bleeding usually causes hematemesis, vomiting blood, or melena; lower bleeding more often causes hematochezia.
A leaking pipe: what you see depends on the section.
Melena is black, tarry stool that often smells strong because digestive enzymes and bacteria act on hemoglobin; hematochezia is bright red blood from the rectum.
Sources (2)
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of MedicineGastrointestinal Bleeding, MedlinePlusPublished
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingGastrointestinal Bleeding, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated