Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract

Bleeding – the flow of blood from a damaged blood vessel. When bleeding into the lungs, bronchi, trachea, duodenum, stomach, or esophagus occurs, the flowing blood may break through the mouth. Due to bleeding into the lungs, the patient coughs up fresh frothy blood. When bleeding from the stomach or duodenum, the patient vomits partially digested blood with clots and food particles. Bleeding from the colon or rectum results in blood mixing with stool; bleeding from the kidneys, bladder, or ureter mixes with urine. Sudden loss of about 1 liter of blood due to bleeding causes impaired heart function, organ failure, oxygen deficiency, acute anemia, and may lead to hemorrhagic shock. Bleeding is particularly dangerous for children and elderly people. After bleeding, there is weakness, thirst, pale skin and mucous membranes, increased pulse, and sweating. A person dies after losing 50-60% of blood, and in cases of severe bleeding, even 25%. Chronic, mild, and prolonged bleeding leads to chronic iron deficiency anemia.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology