Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a symptom of a disorder in your digestive tract. The blood often appears in stool or vomit but isn't always visible. The level of bleeding can range from mild to severe and life-threatening. Bleeding may come from any site along the GI tract, but is often divided into:
Although finding the cause of GI bleeding can be difficult, sophisticated imaging technology can usually locate the problem, and minimally invasive procedures often can fix it. For questions related to gastrointestinal bleeding or to schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist, call (206) 223-2319.
The amount of GI bleeding may be so small that it can only be detected on a lab test such as the fecal occult blood test. Other signs of GI bleeding can include:
Diagnosis for the cause of GI bleeding usually involves a medical history, including a history of symptoms and any changes in bowel habits, a physical examination, and diagnostic tests that include a blood test and stool test.
Your physician may also perform a procedure called an endoscopy or a colonoscopy. These procedures can find the source of bleeding as well as stop the bleeding.
A common presentation for GI bleeding is chronic iron deficiency anemia that is otherwise unexplained.
Depending on the source of your GI bleeding (upper or lower digestive tract), the following treatment options may be considered:
If bleeding recurs after treatment, you may need surgery.
Patients with gastrointestinal bleeding that are treated at Virginia Mason’s Digestive Disease Institute not only experience better outcomes related to their condition, including lower mortality rates, but also have lower costs than other local medical institutions.