When blood leaks into the middle of the digestive tract, this condition is known as a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. External indications of internal gastrointestinal hemorrhage include vomiting that is either bloody or dusty, stools that are tarry, or feces that include blood.
Symptoms of gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Haemorrhage (bleeding) from the gastrointestinal tract can occur as a complication of many different conditions, and its symptoms depend on the origin of the bleeding, its location, and how severe the bleeding is.
Bleeding in the stomach, esophagus, duodenum, and sometimes the initial part of the small intestine, i.e.upper gastrointestinal bleeding, is generally characterized by bloody or coffee grounds-like vomiting (often with clots) andtarry stools. On the other hand, bleeding originating in the large intestine – is characterized by the presence of bloody, heavy and often loose stools.
Gastrointestinal haemorrhage should be treated in a hospital, in a surgical ward, as it is quite often necessary to undergo surgery. It can be concluded that the blood in the stool observed as a result of haemorrhage is the brighter the lower the bleeding source is.
This means that withmassive bleeding from the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract,the blood in the stool is dark red, cherry, brown, or even black, tar-like stools (when the blood changes under the influence of acid gastric juice).
On the other hand, withbleeding from the lower, end-gastrointestinal tract,the blood in the stool is usually bright red and rather visible on the surface of the stool, which in these cases does not have a tarry appearance.
First aid in the course of gastrointestinal haemorrhage
Practical advice for pre –medical treatmentof gastrointestinal haemorrhage:
- lay the patient horizontally in bed and instruct not to get up,
- apply cold compresses (wet, ice pack, etc.) to the abdomen,
- you should postpone giving any food in time (you can only rinse your mouth with water or suck ice cubes),
- it is recommended to call a doctor or ambulance immediately.
Attention!All, and especially frequent, recurrent haemorrhages (even minor bleeding) from the anus should be an indication for consultation with a doctor and careful inspection.