Developer site: The content shown here is test data.

MyEClinic
MyEClinic
Health Dictionary AI Health Chat Find an Online Doctor
A serene Zen garden with raked sand and smooth stones, symbolising clarity and calm

Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

Back to skin conditions

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding classification

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding can be classified into occult, moderate and severe bleeding based on the severity of bleeding.

Classification

Classification

Lower GI bleeding can be classified into 3 groups based on the severity of bleeding:[1][2][3][4][5][6]

  • Occult lower GI bleeding
  • Moderate lower GI bleeding
  • Severe lower GI bleeding
Severe lower GI bleeding Moderate lower GI bleeding Occult lower GI bleeding
Age > 65 years Occur at any age Any age
Presenting symptoms Hematochezia or bright red blood per rectum. Hematochezia or melena Symptoms of anemia (fatigue, tiredness)
Hemodynamics Unstable Stable Stable
Lab findings Hemoglobin equal to or less than 6 g/dl. Microcytic anemia Microcytic hypochromic anemia due to chronic blood loss.
Differential
References

References

  1. ↑ Lee EW, Laberge JM (2004). “Differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding”. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol. 7 (3): 112–22. PMID 16015555.
  2. ↑ Raju GS, Gerson L, Das A, Lewis B (2007). “American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute medical position statement on obscure gastrointestinal bleeding”. Gastroenterology. 133 (5): 1694–6. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2007.06.008. PMID 17983811.
  3. ↑ Rockey DC (2010). “Occult and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: causes and clinical management”. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 7 (5): 265–79. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2010.42. PMID 20351759.
  4. ↑ Rockey DC (2005). “Gastrointestinal bleeding”. Gastroenterol. Clin. North Am. 34 (4): 581–8. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2005.08.002. PMID 16303571.
  5. ↑ Green BT, Rockey DC (2003). “Acute gastrointestinal bleeding”. Semin. Gastrointest. Dis. 14 (2): 44–65. PMID 12889580.
  6. ↑ Rockey DC (1999). “Occult gastrointestinal bleeding”. N. Engl. J. Med. 341 (1): 38–46. doi:10.1056/NEJM199907013410107. PMID 10387941.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]