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Contents
  • Initial Evaluation Steps
  • Colonoscopy: The Gold Standard
  • Other Diagnostic Tools
  • When Bleeding Source is Elusive

How is Acute Lower GI Bleeding Diagnosed?

How is Acute Lower GI Bleeding Diagnosed?

What's This About?

Diagnosing acute lower GI bleeding is crucial to managing and treating this condition effectively. Let's explore the methods used to identify the sources of bleeding.
Contents
  • Initial Evaluation Steps
  • Colonoscopy: The Gold Standard
  • Other Diagnostic Tools
  • When Bleeding Source is Elusive

Initial Evaluation Steps

The first step in diagnosing acute lower GI bleeding involves a thorough medical history and a physical examination. Doctors look for signs of bleeding, such as changes in stool color, and assess the patient's overall stability. Lab tests are also crucial, helping determine if the bleeding might be from the upper GI tract.

Colonoscopy: The Gold Standard

A colonoscopy is often the go-to procedure for diagnosing acute lower GI bleeding. It allows doctors to visually inspect the colon for sources of bleeding and even perform therapeutic interventions. While it requires bowel preparation, its ability to locate and sometimes treat bleeding makes it invaluable.
The process of diagnosing acute lower GI bleeding involves taking a medical history, conducting lab tests, and performing procedures like colonoscopy to locate and possibly treat sources of bleeding.

Other Diagnostic Tools

For patients with severe or ongoing bleeding, additional tools like CT angiography might be used. This imaging test can quickly identify active bleeding sites, helping guide further interventions. However, it involves radiation and contrast dye, so it's used selectively.

When Bleeding Source is Elusive

Sometimes, the source of bleeding isn't immediately clear, even after initial tests. In such cases, additional tests like capsule endoscopy or push enteroscopy might be needed. These help explore deeper into the digestive tract when the bleeding site is not evident.

FAQs

What's the first step in diagnosis?

A thorough history and physical examination are the first steps.

What is a colonoscopy?

It's a procedure that inspects the colon for bleeding sources.

What if the bleeding source isn't found?

Additional tests like CT angiography or capsule endoscopy may be used.

What does CT angiography involve?

It uses imaging to detect active bleeding sites, but involves radiation.

Why are lab tests important?

They help assess the severity and potential source of bleeding.

Wrapping Up

Diagnosing acute lower GI bleeding involves several steps to ensure effective treatment.
Talk to Doctronic today to learn more about diagnostic options for GI bleeding.
Additional References
  1. Oakland K, Chadwick G, East JE, et al. Diagnosis and management of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: guidelines from the British Society of Gastroenterology. Gut 2019; 68:776.
  2. Sengupta N, Feuerstein JD, Jairath V, et al. Management of Patients With Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding: An Updated ACG Guideline. Am J Gastroenterol 2023; 118:208.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.