Lower GI Bleeding – Topics in General Surgery

Lower GI Bleeding, Topics

Lower GI Bleeding

  • Distal to ligament of Treitz
  • Most common causes of lower GI bleeding:  1. Diverticulosis (usually right sided), 2. Vascular ectasia
  • Must rule out upper GI bleeding with lower GI bleeding.  Use NGT aspiration and/or EGD.
  • If massive bleeding – consider angiogram
  • If slow bleeding – consider colonoscopy
  • If colonoscopy is negative consider tagged RBC study
  • tagged RBC scan (radiolabeled) can detect bleeding at a rate of 0.1 ml/Min
  • Angiogram detects 1ml/Min