Related Experiment Videos
Colonoscopy for diagnosis and treatment of severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Routine outcomes and cost analysis
1University of California, Los Angeles Center for the Health Sciences, 44-138 CHS, Division of Digestive Diseases, UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1684, USA.
Insights
Severe hematochezia, often presumed lower gastrointestinal bleeding, requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. This article details colonoscopic approaches for managing severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding and associated lesions.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Endoscopy
Background:
- Severe hematochezia affects 10-15% of gastroenterology patients.
- Lower gastrointestinal (LGI) bleeding is the presumed source for most cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss current colonoscopic diagnosis and treatment of severe LGI bleeding.
- To present an approach to diagnosing and treating severe hematochezia.
- To analyze cost-effectiveness of emergency colonoscopy versus other methods.
Main Methods:
- Review of current colonoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.
- Presentation of a specific clinical approach for severe hematochezia.
- Comparative cost assessment of diagnostic and treatment strategies.
Main Results:
- Colonoscopy is a key tool for diagnosing and treating severe LGI bleeding.
- Specific lesions causing severe hematochezia are identified.
- Emergency colonoscopy demonstrates a favorable cost-benefit profile.
Conclusions:
- A structured colonoscopic approach is effective for severe hematochezia.
- Understanding causative lesions aids treatment.
- Emergency colonoscopy is a cost-effective intervention for severe LGI bleeding.
Abstract:
Approximately 10% to 15% of patients seen by gastroenterologists have severe, ongoing hematochezia, which most physicians assume is from a lower gastrointestinal (LGI) source. This article discusses current colonoscopic diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe LGI bleeding. The authors present their approach to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe hematochezia. They also discuss the specific lesions that cause this condition and the cost assessment of emergency colonoscopy compared to other approaches for diagnosis and treatment of severe hematochezia.