$Unique_ID{BRK00180}
$Pretitle{Digestive System}
$Title{What is a "Gut Bleed"?}
$Subject{gut bleed bleeding endoscopy}
$Volume{I-12}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What is a "Gut Bleed"?


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QUESTION:  The circumstances are too long to tell, but we are faced with a
terrible anxiety about a condition called "Gut Bleed".  It sounds horrible to
us, but none of our friends have heard of this condition, but all agree that
when something is bleeding, it has to be serious.  Can you offer us some
answers?

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ANSWER:  I would have been very interested to know the origin of the
expression causing you so much worry.  It sounds like something a resident
physician might say, and be overheard by a concerned member of the family.  It
translates as "bleeding in the digestive tract" and as such can mean many
things.  To start with it is a symptom that something wrong is going on, and
not a specific disease in itself.  The bleeding can originate any where in the
digestive system, from the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large
intestines (colon), to the rectum and anus.  It can be difficult to detect and
remain hidden (occult) to large amounts of visible red blood seen in the bowel
after a bowel movement.  The conditions can range from minor, such as
hemorrhoids, which is probably the most common cause of bleeding from the
digestive tract, to very serious conditions, such as cancer of the colon or
rectum.  Benign conditions, like polyps of the colon can cause bleeding, as
well an inflammations resulting from a variety of causes.  Of considerable
importance in understanding the seriousness of the condition is to know
whether the situation is acute or chronic.  Many times there are no associated
symptoms, but acute bleeding brings with it weakness, dizziness and fainting
and can be accompanied by crampy abdominal pain.  Chronic bleeding may provoke
fatigue and lethargy, shortness of breath and the pallor of an anemic
individual.  A gut bleed (I hate the term) can be recognized by bright red
blood coating the stool, dark blood mixed with stool, a black or "tarry"
looking stool, vomitus containing bright red blood, or vomitus that may
resemble coffee grounds.  Obviously treatment will depend upon the cause of
the bleeding, but none of these situations can be ignored and medical
evaluation is a must, and as promptly as possible.  Although there are many
techniques to discover the origin and cause, endoscopy is becoming the most
popular diagnostic procedure.  Using a flexible, telescope like instrument,
the physician can actually see the location of the problem, take tissue
biopsies when indicated, and take color pictures of the bleeding sight, for
later study and reference.  There are many treatments available, depending
upon location, severity and cause, and they range all way from medications
that can be taken by mouth, to emergency surgery to stem the loss of blood.
The first treatment will be dedicated to stabilizing a patient, putting things
back in order so that treatment may get off on the right foot, and be directed
at correcting the causes of the problem, rather than merely dealing with
consequences.  And results of all these treatments are generally good, even
when the original condition has been quite serious and life threatening.  Your
question really requires a textbook chapter to answer fully, but at least, for
now, you have some basic understanding of the scope of the problem.  And
perhaps we have all learned from your disquiet, that words overheard across a
hospital waiting room do not make for the real understanding and information
necessary to cope with the anxiety that illness brings with it in its wake.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
