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Lower GI bleed usually is from the colon and presents itself as bright red blood via the rectum
(BRBPR) or dark burgundy stool.
The common causes are diverticular bleed, colitis, bleeding from hemorrhoids, and occasionally
colon cancer. The common use of blood thinners for cardiac issues have significantly increased
both the likelihood of the bleed and the severity.
The patients are usually admitted to the hospital and resuscitated with intravenous fluids (IVF)
and/or blood products. The first test is a CT angiography (CTA) which if it shows bleeding leads
to a Mesenteric Anglogram (MA) by radiology and embolization with deployment of coils to block
the blood vessel.
Lower GI bleed is intermittent and generally stops by the time the patient is admitted. In that
case the patient undergoes colonic cleaning and a colonoscopy the next day
