Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due to Colonic Source

AbstractPurpose of reviewAcute GI bleeding is a prevalent condition responsible for significant morbidity, mortality, and overall health care burden in the United States and globally. Obscure GIB is defined as recurrent or persistent evidence of blood loss after negative endoscopic assessment. The purpose of this review is to further examine colonic sources of obscure GI bleeding with regard to epidemiology, diagnosis, therapy, rebleeding rate, and areas in need of further study.Recent findingsNewer diagnostic modalities like video capsule endoscopy have shown the importance of continued investigation of colonic bleeding after negative colonoscopy, but the risk of rebleeding has not changed significantly over time. New practice recommendations for lower GI bleeding may increase the yield of evaluation.SummaryObscure lower GI bleeding causes significant morbidity even though it is a common problem usually caused by common colonic lesions, including diverticulosis, gastrointestinal angiodysplastic lesions, colitis, or colon cancer.
Source: Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology - Category: Gastroenterology Source Type: research