Intestinal bleeding is one of the most striking signs of the presence of serious disorders in the human body. If such a condition occurs, you must urgently consult a doctor. Any delay can cost a person life.
Basically, bleeding is the last stage of one of the diseases of the digestive tract. An unbalanced diet, a too fast pace of life, constant stress, and smoking can lead to diseases of these organs. Many people, when alarming symptoms appear, take a large number of drugs, which can lead to bleeding. When the first alarming signs appear, you need to visit a gastroenterologist.
Types and forms of bleeding
Symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding largely depend on the severity of the pathology and the rate of blood loss. Such a violation can be of several types, and its form can be established according to the clinical picture, as well as during the diagnosis.
The form of internal bleeding can be from the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. The upper sections include the esophagus and stomach, and the lower sections include the small and large intestines, as well as the rectal section. In addition, bleeding varies in appearance, namely:
- acute or chronic;
- explicit or hidden;
- single or in a state of relapse.
By severity, bleeding can be classified as:
- lung;
- moderate severity;
- heavy.
With severe bleeding, a person can lose 2-3 liters of blood, which threatens death.
Main reasons
One of the most common causes of intestinal bleeding is esophageal varicose veins. Depending on the source of the lesion, a similar pathology may be in the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract. Such a separation is necessary, since the signs, methods of diagnosis and treatment may differ. Bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract occurs for reasons such as:
- erosive gastritis or ulcers;
- esophageal varicose veins;
- esophagitis;
- superficial damage to the esophagus ;
- neoplasms in the digestive tract.
There are also many other reasons, but they are quite rare. Bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract may occur in conditions such as:
- tumors and polyps;
- helminthiases;
- intestinal diverticulosis;
- infectious colitis;
- complication of infectious diseases;
- damage to the intestinal wall by foreign objects;
- hemorrhoids.
Bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract is much less common than from the upper section. One of the main reasons for this pathology can be various blood diseases, in which its coagulability is significantly reduced.
Symptomatology
Symptoms of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract can be very different, so it is often difficult to establish its source, this requires additional instrumental diagnostics. Among the main signs of blood loss, it is necessary to distinguish such as:
- dizziness;
- severe weakness;
- constant thirst;
- fainting
- increased heart rate;
- severe pallor of the skin;
- the appearance of cold sweat;
- pressure drop.
In severe cases, shock may develop. If there is a slight bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, the symptoms will increase gradually, and if strong, then external signs will appear quickly enough. If a person suffers from a chronic disease of the stomach or intestines, then when the first complaints appear, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Vomiting occurs some time after the bleeding has opened. Vomit is the color of coffee grounds. This occurs as a result of a chemical reaction of blood components with gastric juice. The appearance of vomiting may indicate that bleeding continues for several hours.
If vomiting with impurities of red blood is observed, this may indicate bleeding from the veins of the esophagus, which may be due to trauma to the abdomen, when the walls of the vessels are damaged. The patient urgently needs to be hospitalized, as he may die.
The color and consistency of feces also depend on the time of onset of bleeding and its intensity. The appearance of changes in the stool suggests that bleeding continues for at least several hours. With a slight lesion, bloody feces appears the next day. Urgently see a doctor. In addition, the color of feces during bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract can remain unchanged, and the presence of blood is determined only with the help of a coprogram.
In addition, there may be a darkening of the feces, which turn black and remain dense. Significant blood loss is accompanied by the appearance of black stool.
The appearance of red blood in an unchanged stool in the absence of general symptoms of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract indicates damage to hemorrhoids or the presence of an anal fissure. This condition does not threaten the life of the patient, but requires urgent treatment.
Symptoms of bleeding in children
Internal bleeding from the digestive tract is often observed in a child under the age of 3 years. Congenital pathologies may also be observed in the form of:
- partial colon infarction;
- ulcerative necrotic enterocolitis;
- doubling the small intestine.
In this case, the child has bloating, constant vomiting, regurgitation. Feces become greenish with impurities of mucus and blood. Be sure to immediately consult a doctor when the first signs of pathology develop, in order to prevent the occurrence of very dangerous complications.
First aid
First aid for gastrointestinal bleeding before the arrival of an ambulance is very important. In this case, you need:
- to lay the patient and provide him with complete rest;
- apply ice or any other cold to the gastrointestinal tract;
- allow a person to swallow small pieces of ice;
- urgently call an ambulance.
With significant blood loss, a sharp drop in pressure and a fainting state can be observed . First aid for fainting should be immediate, as this can lead to the death of the victim. That is why it is absolutely necessary to carry out such manipulations as:
- intravenous administration of a solution of aminocaproic acid 5%;
- the introduction of calcium chloride 10%;
- intramuscular administration of calcium gluconate 10%;
- injection "Vikasol."
After this, you must immediately hospitalize the patient in the gastroenterological department. First aid for fainting is very important to prevent the occurrence of a shock condition. The hospital undergoes a comprehensive examination to determine the cause of the bleeding. In especially severe cases, a blood transfusion and an infusion of an intravenous injection of glucose are performed.
If a person has a gastric ulcer, then there must be drugs at home to stop the bleeding, as this will urgently help the victim.
Diagnostics
When the first signs of a rupture of the colon or damage to other parts of the gastrointestinal tract appear, immediate assistance from the surgeon is required. After stopping the bleeding, consultation with a gastroenterologist, oncologist and proctologist is required. In some cases, a hematologist consultation is also required. The diagnosis is established on the basis of:
- collection of medical history and complaints;
- clinical examination;
- blood test;
- analysis of feces for blood;
- endoscopic examination.
If you have any complaints of signs of bleeding, you need to know when the first symptoms arose and what the person associates them with. The anamnesis of life is of great importance. In addition, clinical and rectal examination is required. It helps to identify the source of bleeding. When conducting an external examination, the doctor draws attention to the patient’s stomach. If it is flabby and saggy, this may indicate a prolapse of the stomach. If the stomach becomes convex, then this may indicate the course of the tumor process.
When conducting a general blood test in case of bleeding, a decrease in hemoglobin and the number of red blood cells is noted. In the presence of pus in the digestive tract, leukocytosis is observed. An increase in white blood cells will be in the presence of malignant neoplasms of the stomach. ESR can be reduced or remains within the normal range.
In the presence of injuries or injuries of the abdomen, an endoscopic examination is required. It is carried out using a special device that is inserted into the patient’s oral cavity under the supervision of a doctor. During endoscopic examination, in addition to detecting the source of bleeding, it is also possible to carry out medical procedures, in particular cauterization or clipping of damaged vessels.
With a rupture of the colon, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is used. With sigmoidoscopy, an instrumental study of the sigmoid and rectum is performed. Colonoscopy implies an endoscopic examination of the colon using a special apparatus aimed at examining the colon mucosa. All of these procedures can be diagnostic and therapeutic.
In some cases, an ultrasound is prescribed, which is performed strictly on an empty stomach. In this case, the state of the walls, their thickness is determined, and it is also possible to detect the place of rupture. A similar examination method will allow us to assess the dynamics of the development of the disease.
The X-ray method is widely used, despite the fact that it is associated with radiation exposure. It should not often be used to examine children and people of reproductive age. A similar study is carried out if there is a suspicion of a tumor process, anemia, or if swallowing is impaired. Contrast is introduced to the patient, and the state of the organ is assessed.
Treatment features
Treatment of the gastrointestinal tract in case of bleeding is carried out after the establishment of the main cause of the problem, as this will allow you to choose the most effective methods. If the problem arose as a result of surgery or in the case of an ulcer, then surgery is recommended. Conservative treatment in this case will not bring the desired result.
If bleeding is caused by a minor vascular lesion, then a similar problem can be eliminated with therapeutic endoscopy. In addition, the doctor may prescribe angiotherapy, which implies the use of vasoconstrictor drugs. It is worth remembering that in the event of a relapse, the operation is necessarily indicated.
When carrying out treatment of the gastrointestinal tract in case of bleeding, it is necessary to observe strict bed rest, as well as complete emotional and physical calm. Replenish the volume of blood lost by intravenous administration of blood substitutes. With significant blood loss, a transfusion of blood components is required.
It is very important to conduct a comprehensive and timely treatment, as this will prevent serious complications and dangerous consequences.
Treatment of the upper gastrointestinal tract
If bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract is observed, then this is considered a very dangerous condition, which can lead to the death of the patient. A person necessarily needs urgent help from a doctor. He should not be given any anti-emetic drugs. You can only put an ice bag on your stomach.
Observation and treatment are carried out strictly in a hospital. The most common methods include endoscopic examinations and surgical treatment. Endoscopy is aimed at introducing a gastroscope into the oral cavity and throat to find the source of bleeding and eliminate it. The operation is performed in case of inefficiency of endoscopic intervention.
Treatment of the lower gastrointestinal tract
If there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract in the lower part and bleeding occurs, then it is necessary to establish the cause of this condition and conduct the subsequent complex treatment. It may consist in the removal of neoplasms, polyps, as well as surgery for varicose veins.
It is worth noting that the lower sections do not give very strong blood loss and very rarely require emergency hospitalization. However, in any case, it is important that the first signs of bleeding occur, consult a doctor for treatment.
Dieting
You can consume food only 1-2 days after the bleeding stops. Dishes must be chilled, semi-liquid or liquid. You can also swallow small pieces of ice.
As your well-being improves, you can gradually expand the menu by adding dietary dishes. Literally 5-6 days after the bleeding stops completely, the patient should consume food every 2 hours in small portions. After a week, you can switch to the usual food.
Forecast
Predict the condition of the patient depending on the severity of the bleeding. If the amount of blood lost is small, then the symptoms include weakness and pallor, but in general, the person’s condition is considered quite satisfactory. In this case, gastroenterologists carry out the required therapy, prescribe a course of medications, and also offer constant outpatient monitoring.
In the presence of more serious and intense manifestations, pain in the gastrointestinal tract, the prognosis will depend on many other factors, such as the stage of the course of the disease, the age of the patient, as well as the general etiology.
If, in the presence of internal bleeding, dark stools, nausea and vomiting with blood are observed, then you should immediately visit a doctor, since this condition is very dangerous, especially if the patient is older than 50 years. In older people, it is very difficult to cause a reduction in the sclerotic artery, as it has already partially lost its elasticity.
Pain can also indicate a negative prognosis, which does not stop from the very beginning of the bleeding. Such symptoms greatly complicate the overall prognosis for the patient. In this case, urgent surgical intervention is indicated. It is worth remembering that when the first signs of diseases of the digestive tract occur, you need to see a doctor, thereby you can save your life and health.
Possible complications
Gastrointestinal bleeding can lead to very dangerous consequences, in particular such as:
- anemia;
- hemorrhagic shock;
- acute renal failure;
- multiple organ failure.
Hemorrhagic shock refers to very serious conditions associated with profuse blood loss. Multiple organ failure is a severe specific disorder of the body that develops as the final stage of many injuries and acute diseases.
Untimely appeal to a specialist when the first signs of internal bleeding occur or self-treatment can lead to very serious consequences, up to the death of the patient.
Prophylaxis
Bleeding never occurs on its own. It always accompanies any disease and injury. All patients suffering from chronic diseases of the digestive system must undergo preventive examinations by a doctor and take tests as prescribed. In addition, an endoscopic examination may be prescribed.
In the presence of chronic diseases, you must constantly adhere to a special diet that the doctor recommends, since in many cases the cause of the exacerbation of the disease and the occurrence of complications is precisely the error in nutrition and the consumption of alcoholic beverages.