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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Laparoscopic Splenectomy with Pericardial Devascularization for Hypersplenism and Esophageal Variceal Hemorrhage Due to Portal Hypertension
Published on: November 15, 2024
[Lower gastrointestinal bleeding]
Insights
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a common emergency in elderly patients. Prompt assessment and multidisciplinary management, including colonoscopy, are crucial for reducing complications and improving outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a frequent medical emergency, primarily affecting older adults.
- Common causes include diverticulosis, anorectal issues, angiodysplasias, ischemic colitis, and post-polypectomy bleeding.
- LGIB can manifest as hematochezia, melena, or occult blood loss, necessitating urgent evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for managing lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
- To emphasize the importance of early risk stratification and multidisciplinary care.
Main Methods:
- Clinical assessment of severity and recurrence risk.
- Diagnostic colonoscopy within 24 hours for stable patients.
- CT angiography for hemodynamically unstable individuals.
Main Results:
- Colonoscopy is the primary diagnostic and therapeutic tool.
- CT angiography is vital in unstable patients.
- Therapeutic options include repeat endoscopy, embolization, and surgery for refractory cases.
Conclusions:
- Early, multidisciplinary management of LGIB is key to reducing patient morbidity and mortality.
- Timely diagnosis and intervention improve outcomes for lower GI bleeds.
Abstract:
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a common emergency, defined nowadays as bleeding of colorectal origin. It predominantly affects elderly patients in whom it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The main causes include diverticulosis, anorectal disorders, angiodysplasias, ischemic colitis, post-endoscopic resection complications, and tumor-related bleeding. Clinically, lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) presents with episodes of hematochezia or melena, or sometimes as occult bleeding. Initial assessment of clinico-biological severity and risk of recurrence is essential to determine the need for hospitalization and the timing of diagnostic procedures. Colonoscopy is the reference diagnostic and therapeutic procedure, ideally performed within 24 hours with CT angiography reserved for cases of hemodynamic instability. In case of failure, therapeutic escalation includes repeat endoscopy, arterial embolization, and, as a last resort, surgery. Early multidisciplinary management helps reduce morbidity, mortality, and recurrence.
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