Alternative names: GI bleed, GI bleeding, Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
Bleeding may occur anywhere along the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus, for a variety of reasons. Blood may be visible in the stool or in vomit or may be hidden (occult) and detectable only by diagnostic tests.
Aside from those mentioned below, symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding also include vomiting blood (hematemesis). Vomited blood may be red, or black like coffee grounds.
The following symptoms may indicate rapid blood loss, which is very serious:
Once it has been established that bleeding has occurred or is occurring, the first step is to rule out hemorrhoids, rectal tears (fissures), and tumors by performing a rectal examination. The next step may include tests such as different types of X-rays and/or endoscopy, depending on whether the doctor suspects that the bleeding is coming from the upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, and first segment of the small intestine) or lower digestive tract (lower small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus).
Laboratory findings:
If a large amount of blood has been lost, fluids are given intravenously, and a blood transfusion may be needed. After a blood transfusion, the person is observed closely for evidence of continued bleeding, such as an increased pulse rate, a drop in blood pressure, or a loss of blood from the mouth or anus.
Bleeding from esophageal varices can be treated in several ways. In one method, an irritating chemical is injected into the bleeding vessels through an endoscope, causing inflammation and scarring of the veins, which stops the bleeding (sclerotherapy). In a second, more frequently used method, the varices are tied off with rubber bands during endoscopy (rubber band ligation). In a third method, now rarely used, a catheter with a deflated balloon at its tip is inserted through the mouth into the esophagus, and the balloon is then inflated to apply pressure on the bleeding area (esophageal tamponade).
Bleeding in the stomach often can be stopped with one of several procedures performed with an endoscope; these involve using an electrical current to destroy the portion of a vessel that is bleeding (cauterization) or injecting a material that causes clotting within the bleeding vessel. If these procedures fail, surgery may be needed.
Bleeding of the lower intestine usually does not require emergency treatment unless the person loses a large amount of blood quickly. Tests to locate the bleeding precisely, such as endoscopy or radionuclide scans, may be needed. Surgery can be performed if bleeding does not stop.
Gastrointestinal bleeding is self-limiting in more than 80% of cases: the body is able to stop the bleeding on its own. Patients who continue to bleed or who have symptoms of a sudden loss of a large amount of blood usually are hospitalized and often are admitted to an intensive care unit.
Black, tarry stools usually result from bleeding that occurs high up in the digestive tract – for example, in the stomach or first segment of the small intestine (duodenum); blood in the stomach turns black when exposed to stomach acid and enzymes. A single severe bleeding episode can produce tarry stools for as long as a week, so continuing tarry stools do not necessarily indicate persistent bleeding.
Passing visible blood from the rectum (hematochezia) may indicate bleeding in the lower intestines.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can damage the lining of the stomach.
Aspirin may damage the lining of the stomach, but it is believed that the bacterium H. pylori is usually the cause.
People with long-term bleeding that tends to occur in small amounts or intermittently may develop symptoms of anemia, such as tiring easily and looking unnaturally pale.
Certain drugs, such as aspirin and many other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can irritate the digestive tract and cause bleeding.
Drugs that reduce the blood's tendency to clot (anticoagulants) or that dissolve clots once they have formed (thrombolytics or tissue plasminogen activator) can cause gastrointestinal bleeding.
If gastrointestinal bleeding is suspected due to other symptoms, but no blood is visible in the stool, a doctor may decide to test for occult (hidden) blood.
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