Lower gastrointestinal bleeding overview
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Lower gastrointestinal bleeding Microchapters |
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Differentiating Lower gastrointestinal bleeding from other Diseases |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Management |
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Surgery |
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Lower gastrointestinal bleeding overview On the Web |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Lower gastrointestinal bleeding overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding can be classified into occult, moderate and severe bleeding based on the severity of bleeding.
Pathophysiology
Superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery are the two major blood vessels that supply lower gastrointestinal tract. Disruption of this blood vessel junction by any of the disease process results in bleeding. Diverticulosis is the most common etiology of lower GI bleeding accounting for 30% of all cases, followed by ano-rectal disease, ischemia of bowel, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), neoplasia, and arteriovenous (AV) malformations. The characteristic gross and microscopic findings of lower gastrointestinal tracts depends upon the underlying pathology.