Contents

Disclaimer

Oxford University Press makes no representation, express or implied, that the drug dosages in this book are correct. Readers must therefore always check the product information and clinical procedures with the most up to date published product information and data sheets provided by the manufacturers and the most recent codes of conduct and safety regulations. The authors and the publishers do not accept responsibility or legal liability for any errors in the text or for the misuse or misapplication of material in this work. Except where otherwise stated, drug dosages and recommendations are for the non-pregnant adult who is not breastfeeding.

Show Summary Details
Page of

Pathophysiology and causes of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage 

Pathophysiology and causes of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage
Chapter:
Pathophysiology and causes of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage
Author(s):

Leslie M. Kobayashi

and Raul Coimbra

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0179
Page of

PRINTED FROM OXFORD MEDICINE ONLINE (www.oxfordmedicine.com). © Oxford University Press, 2021. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single chapter of a title in Oxford Medicine Online for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 27 October 2021

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB), presenting as melena or haematochezia, is a common cause of emergency department visits and hospital admission, and is responsible for significant health care expenditure in the United States. LGIB is increasing in frequency and is particularly prevalent among the elderly, where polypharmacy and anticoagulants can both cause and exacerbate LGIB. The most common causes of LGIB are diverticulosis, haemorrhoids, and both benign and malignant masses. However, when occurring in the intensive care unit, more unusual causes, such as ischaemic colitis and solitary rectal ulcer, should be strongly considered.

Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.

Please subscribe or login to access full text content.

If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.

For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.