Condition Lookup

Upper GI Bleed (e.g., Variceal Bleed, Peptic Ulcer)

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies

Sub-category: Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Symptoms:
hematemesis (vomiting blood); melena (black, tarry stools); abdominal pain; lightheadedness; pallor; fatigue; shock in severe cases

Root Cause:
Bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract, often due to peptic ulcers, varices, or tears in the esophageal lining (Mallory-Weiss tears).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Endoscopy (gold standard), blood tests (CBC, coagulation profile), nasogastric lavage, imaging (if needed).

Treatment:
Resuscitation with fluids/blood products, endoscopic interventions (e.g., banding, sclerotherapy), pharmacologic therapy to reduce bleeding, and surgical interventions in refractory cases.

Medications:
Proton pump inhibitors (e.g., pantoprazole ) to reduce stomach acid; octreotide or vasopressin for variceal bleeding; antibiotics (e.g., ceftriaxone ) in variceal bleeding to prevent infections; hemostatic agents such as tranexamic acid (if indicated).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 50-150 cases per 100,000 people annually; more common in older adults.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Helicobacter pylori infection, NSAID use, alcohol abuse, liver cirrhosis, anticoagulant or antiplatelet use, smoking.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies depending on the cause and severity; high success rate with early intervention but increased mortality in severe cases or with comorbidities.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypovolemic shock, rebleeding, aspiration, multiorgan failure, death.

Lower GI Bleed (e.g., Diverticular Bleeding)

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies

Sub-category: Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Symptoms:
hematochezia (bright red or maroon-colored blood in stool); lightheadedness; abdominal discomfort; fatigue; shock in severe cases

Root Cause:
Bleeding originating from the lower gastrointestinal tract, commonly due to diverticulosis, angiodysplasia, or colorectal cancer.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Colonoscopy (gold standard), blood tests (CBC, coagulation profile), imaging (e.g., CT angiography), tagged red blood cell scan.

Treatment:
Resuscitation with fluids/blood products, endoscopic or angiographic interventions (e.g., cauterization or embolization), surgical intervention for refractory cases.

Medications:
Hemostatic agents (e.g., tranexamic acid) for active bleeding; iron supplements for anemia post-resolution; prophylactic antibiotics in suspected infections.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Incidence ranges from 20-30 cases per 100,000 annually, increasing with age.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Advanced age, chronic constipation, NSAID or anticoagulant use, history of diverticulosis or angiodysplasia, smoking.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good prognosis with appropriate management; recurrence is common in diverticular bleeding.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypovolemic shock, recurrent bleeding, anemia, death in severe untreated cases.

Upper GI Bleeding (e.g., Varices, Peptic Ulcers)

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: General and Miscellaneous GI Conditions

Sub-category: Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Symptoms:
hematemesis (vomiting blood); melena (black, tarry stools); weakness; dizziness; abdominal pain; shortness of breath; fatigue

Root Cause:
Bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract, commonly caused by peptic ulcers, gastric or esophageal varices, Mallory-Weiss tears, or erosive gastritis/esophagitis.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), stool guaiac test, complete blood count (CBC) to check hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, and imaging if required.

Treatment:
Stabilization with intravenous fluids and blood transfusions if necessary, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), endoscopic interventions (e.g., banding or sclerotherapy for varices, cauterization for ulcers), and in severe cases, surgery or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).

Medications:
Proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole , pantoprazole ) to reduce acid production, octreotide (a somatostatin analog) to control variceal bleeding, and antibiotics (e.g., ceftriaxone ) to prevent infections in variceal cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 50-150 per 100,000 people annually; variceal bleeding is common in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic use of NSAIDs, Helicobacter pylori infection, liver cirrhosis, alcohol abuse, coagulopathies, and high blood pressure in the portal vein.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With prompt treatment, most cases are manageable; however, recurrent bleeding and mortality are significant concerns, especially in variceal cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypovolemic shock, recurrent bleeding, organ failure, and in variceal cases, high mortality if untreated.

Lower GI Bleeding (e.g., Diverticular Bleeding, Angiodysplasia)

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: General and Miscellaneous GI Conditions

Sub-category: Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Symptoms:
hematochezia (bright red or maroon-colored stools); anemia; dizziness; fatigue; abdominal cramps; weakness

Root Cause:
Bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract, commonly due to diverticular disease, angiodysplasia, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, or ischemic colitis.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Colonoscopy, angiography, nuclear medicine scans (e.g., tagged red blood cell scan), and lab tests like CBC to detect anemia.

Treatment:
Resuscitation with intravenous fluids and blood products, colonoscopic interventions (e.g., clipping or cauterization), angiographic embolization, and in severe cases, surgery. Treat underlying causes such as diverticulitis or colitis.

Medications:
Medications are less commonly used for primary treatment but may include vasopressin for active bleeding during angiography, iron supplements for anemia, and mesalamine for inflammatory bowel disease if applicable.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Incidence ranges from 20-30 per 100,000 people annually, increasing with age.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Advanced age, diverticular disease, vascular malformations, anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy, and a history of inflammatory bowel disease or radiation therapy.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most cases resolve spontaneously, especially diverticular bleeding. Severe or recurrent bleeding may require intervention, and prognosis depends on the underlying cause.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe anemia, shock, recurrent bleeding, and in rare cases, bowel ischemia or perforation during treatment.