Signs of gastrointestinal bleeding

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Vu Huy Binh - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a dangerous medical and surgical emergency, common in developing countries, including Vietnam. According to statistics in our country, for every 100,000 people, 50-150 people have gastrointestinal bleeding every year, this rate is increasing day by day.

There are many causes of gastrointestinal bleeding, each of which has a different treatment and treatment.

1.1 Due to gastric and duodenal ulcer This is the most common cause, causing patients to vomit blood, pass black stools. Bleeding with a large amount of blood can cause severe anemia; associated with other symptoms such as pain in the epigastrium.
1.2 Due to portal hypertension This condition is seen in cirrhosis of the liver, blood in the portal vein is obstructed through the collateral passages to return to the inferior vena cava which dilates and increases pressure. .
In this case, the fresh blood is slightly black because it is venous blood; The volume is usually very large and not mixed with food...
Some less common causes such as stomach cancer, acute gastritis, erosive esophagitis, high blood urea, lead poisoning, mercury poisoning ...
1.3 Due to bacillus dysentery This cause of gastrointestinal bleeding often occurs in children, there may be high fever, severe abdominal cramps, frequent bowel movements (15-20 times/day), accompanied cramping and anal pain. Loose stools, very little or all blood, dark red like fish blood or meat wash.
1.4 Due to amoebic dysentery Gastrointestinal bleeding due to amoebic dysentery is usually mild, with mild fever, abdominal cramps along the colon and hypogastric region; bloody stools, blood usually only sticks around bright red stools, accompanied by signs of straining and anal pain after defecation.
1.5 Colon cancer This disease often causes gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly, accompanied by loose stools and dark red blood. Left colon cancer often shows signs of constipation, fresh bloody stools, and rectal cancer often shows signs of stimulating bowel movements many times.

1.6. Hemorrhagic Ulcerative Colitis This disease commonly occurs in young women, presenting in episodes of fever, arthralgia, abdominal cramps along the colon, and bloody stools, usually fresh blood. There may also be bleeding in hemorrhoids, polyps, Crohn's of the rectum, anal fissures ...
1.7 Due to typhoid The patient has abdominal pain, the stool is brick red or dark red.
1.8 Necrotizing hemorrhagic enteritis Clinical manifestations are severe toxic infection, high fever 40-41oC, accompanied by pain and distension, black rotten stools.
1.9 Crohn's disease Common is ileocecal lesions with abdominal pain, intermittent loose stools, fever, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Bleeding complications are common in stage 2 or 3 of the disease when there are ulcerative lesions or perforation of the intestinal wall.
It is also possible to experience small bowel bleeding from other rare causes such as: intussusception, intestinal tuberculosis, Meckel's diverticulum ulcer, small bowel cancer or bleeding from the small intestine in hemorrhagic fever, ..
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As mentioned above, depending on the cause, gastrointestinal bleeding has different symptoms including:
Vomiting dark brown blood, slightly red, mixed with food, thin mucus Passing out black and loose stools like Depending on the degree of blood loss, there will be symptoms of sweating, cold limbs, pale skin and mucous membranes, fatigue, fainting, low blood pressure, small rapid pulse, rapid shallow breathing, little urine. ... When the above signs are suspected of gastrointestinal bleeding, or when there is no evidence, the patient finds: epigastric pain, abdominal pain when taking drugs that are harmful to the stomach, paleness, dizziness, dizziness... also need to go to the doctor right away for timely diagnosis and treatment.

When gastrointestinal bleeding is detected, it is necessary to treat immediately and bring the patient to a medical facility to avoid dangerous complications.
The patient should be placed on a bed or stretcher, with the head low. Then quickly contact the emergency medical system (115) to receive fluids to improve blood loss, and at the same time fight shock with medicines to raise blood pressure, breathe oxygen and urgently transfer the patient to the body. nearest emergency department.
Gastrointestinal bleeding is a dangerous medical emergency, if delayed and improperly handled, it can affect life. Therefore, besides treating as soon as gastrointestinal bleeding is detected, people at high risk need to have regular checkups, have an appropriate diet and rest.
Vinmec International General Hospital system applies endoscopic hemostasis with clip in gastrointestinal bleeding, performed by a team of experienced doctors.