What is the pathophysiology of upper GI bleeding?
Pathogenesis. The main inciting event in the pathogeneis of upper GI bleeding is damage to mucosal injury. This mucosal injury can occur at various levels of GI tract. If the damage and bleeding is confined up to ligament of Treitz, it is defined as upper GI bleeding.
What are the symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding?
Overt bleeding might show up as: Vomiting blood, which might be red or might be dark brown and resemble coffee grounds in texture. Black, tarry stool. Rectal bleeding, usually in or with stool.
How is upper GI bleeding diagnosed?
Doctors most often use upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy to test for acute GI bleeding in the upper and lower GI tracts. Upper GI endoscopy. In an upper GI endoscopy, your doctor feeds an endoscope down your esophagus and into your stomach and duodenum.
What is a upper gastrointestinal bleed?
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding refers to bleeding that occurs anywhere in the esophagus, the stomach, or the upper part of the small intestine. It is a symptom of an underlying disorder, and it can be serious.
What does an upper GI entail?
Upper gastrointestinal tract radiography, also called an upper GI, is an x-ray examination of the esophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine (also known as the duodenum). Images are produced using a special form of x-ray called fluoroscopy and an orally ingested contrast material such as barium.
What factors can contribute to an upper GI bleed?
Potential causes of bleeding in the upper GI tract include:
- Bleeding peptic ulcers. Peptic, or stomach, ulcers may be due to a Helicobacter pylori infection or overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Varices.
- Growths.
- Esophagitis.
- Injury or tear.
- Surgery.
- Diverticulitis.
- Hemorrhoid.
What is the difference between upper and lower GI bleed?
Upper GI bleeding: The upper GI tract includes the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach), stomach, and first part of the small intestine. Lower GI bleeding: The lower GI tract includes much of the small intestine, large intestine or bowels, rectum, and anus.
What do you do for an upper GI bleed?
How do doctors treat GI bleeding?
- inject medicines into the bleeding site.
- treat the bleeding site and surrounding tissue with a heat probe, an electric current, or a laser.
- close affected blood vessels with a band or clip.
What is the difference between upper GI and barium swallow?
Your upper GI tract includes the back of your mouth and throat (pharynx) and your esophagus. Barium is used during a swallowing test to make certain areas of the body show up more clearly on an X-ray.