Bright Red Blood Per Rectum

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Etiology 2 Pathology 3 Diagnostic-procedures 4 Management 5 More General Terms 6 Additional Terms 7 References

Etiology

• colorectal cancer (generally melana, NOT BRBPR)
• colonic polyps (generally melana, NOT BRBPR)
• diverticula* ( diverticulosis, diverticulitis)
• ulcerative colitis
• infectious dysentery
• ischemic colitis
• vascular malformations ( angiodysplasia)*
• pharmaceutical agents

• NSAIDs
• warfarin

• hemorrhoids
• anal fissure
• proctitis in homosexual men
• reddish, but not bloody stool may be secondary to ingestion of beets (pink urine generally precedes reddish stool)

• * most common causes in the elderly

Pathology

• red blood in the stool generally originates in the colon, rectum or anus
• less frequently brisk bleeding from the small intestine may result in red blood in the stool

Diagnostic-procedures

• see lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage
• anoscopy ( hemmorhoids)
• flexible sigmoidoscopy in patients < 30 years if anoscopy negative [3]
• colonoscopy* in patients > 30 years if anoscopy negative [3]

• * flexible sigmoidoscopy plus air contrast barium enema may be substituted colonoscopy

Management

• see lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage

More General Terms

• sign/symptom
• lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Additional Terms

• bright red blood per rectum (BRBPR)
• hematochezia

References

1. Guide to Physical Examination & History Taking, 4th edition, Bates B, JB Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1987
2. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998
3. Journal Watch 22(5):38, 2002 Lewis et al, Ann Intern Med 136:99, 2002

bright red blood per rectum (BRBPR)