Internal bleeding

WikiDoc Resources for Internal bleeding
Articles
Most recent articles on Internal bleeding Most cited articles on Internal bleeding Review articles on Internal bleeding Articles on Internal bleeding in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Internal bleeding Images of Internal bleeding Photos of Internal bleeding Podcasts & MP3s on Internal bleeding Videos on Internal bleeding
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Internal bleeding Bandolier on Internal bleeding TRIP on Internal bleeding
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Internal bleeding at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Internal bleeding Clinical Trials on Internal bleeding at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Internal bleeding NICE Guidance on Internal bleeding NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Internal bleeding CDC on Internal bleeding
Books
Books on Internal bleeding
News
Internal bleeding in the news Be alerted to news on Internal bleeding News trends on Internal bleeding
Commentary
Blogs on Internal bleeding
Definitions
Definitions of Internal bleeding
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Internal bleeding Discussion groups on Internal bleeding Patient Handouts on Internal bleeding Directions to Hospitals Treating Internal bleeding Risk calculators and risk factors for Internal bleeding
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Internal bleeding Causes & Risk Factors for Internal bleeding Diagnostic studies for Internal bleeding Treatment of Internal bleeding
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Internal bleeding
International
Internal bleeding en Espanol Internal bleeding en Francais
Business
Internal bleeding in the Marketplace Patents on Internal bleeding
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Internal bleeding

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Internal bleeding is bleeding occurring inside the body.

Internal bleeds are usually called hemorrhages, even though the term is general to all kinds of bleeds. A hemorrhage can occur near the colon due to large bowel movements.

A minor case of internal bleeding is ecchymosis (a bruise): blood expands under the skin, causing discoloration.

Causes

It may be caused by high blood pressure (by causing blood vessel rupture) or other forms of injury, especially high speed deceleration occurring during an automobile accident, which can cause organ rupture. Also, internal bleeding can be caused by hitting or running against a sharp object in that area. Some diseases may also cause internal bleeding, such as the Filovirus Ebola. This infection, together with similar infections such as the Marburg virus, is fortunately rare. The most common cause of internal bleeding is carcinoma (cancer), either of the gastro-intestinal tract or of the lung, or more rarely of other organs such as the prostate, pancreas or kidney. Peptic ulceration and non-malignant inflammatory conditions of the colon (large bowel) remain, at least in the high-stress environment of Western Society, significant and indeed increasingly common conditions.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Depending on where it occurs (e.g. brain, stomach, lungs), internal bleeding can be a serious medical emergency, potentially causing death if not given a proper treatment quickly.

Internal bleeding can be serious for two reasons:

• The blood can compress organs and cause their dysfunction (as can occur in hematoma).
• When it does not stop spontaneously, the loss of blood will cause hemorrhagic shock, which can lead to brain damage and death.

Diagnosis

Medical investigation is necessary to identify internal bleeding. The external signs are general signs of hypovolemic shock (see the article about shock for more information).