- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Part 6.1 Physiology
- Part 6.2 Gastrointestinal monitoring
- Part 6.3 Gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Chapter 176 Pathophysiology and causes of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Chapter 177 Diagnosis and management of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in the critically ill
- Chapter 178 Diagnosis and management of variceal bleeding in the critically ill
- Chapter 179 Pathophysiology and causes of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Chapter 180 Diagnosis and management of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage in the critically ill
- Part 6.4 Disordered gastric motility
- Part 6.5 The acute abdomen in the ICU
- Part 6.6 Pancreatitis
- Part 6.7 Jaundice
- Part 6.8 Acute hepatic failure
- Part 6.9 Acute on chronic hepatic failure
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 843) Pathophysiology and causes of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Chapter:
- (p. 843) Pathophysiology and causes of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Author(s):
Leslie M. Kobayashi
and Raul Coimbra
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0179
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.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Part 6.1 Physiology
- Part 6.2 Gastrointestinal monitoring
- Part 6.3 Gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Chapter 176 Pathophysiology and causes of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Chapter 177 Diagnosis and management of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in the critically ill
- Chapter 178 Diagnosis and management of variceal bleeding in the critically ill
- Chapter 179 Pathophysiology and causes of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Chapter 180 Diagnosis and management of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage in the critically ill
- Part 6.4 Disordered gastric motility
- Part 6.5 The acute abdomen in the ICU
- Part 6.6 Pancreatitis
- Part 6.7 Jaundice
- Part 6.8 Acute hepatic failure
- Part 6.9 Acute on chronic hepatic failure
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care