Summary
Differentials
Common
- Diverticular disease
- Colonic angiodysplasia
- Ischemic colitis
- Crohn disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Infectious colitis
- Colorectal cancer
- Internal hemorrhoids
- Anal fissure
- Colonic polyps
Uncommon
- Meckel diverticulum
- Radiation-induced telangiectasia
- Dieulafoy lesion
- Aortoenteric fistula
- Vasculitis
- Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
- Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome
- Anal cancer
- Rectal ulcer
- Rectal varices
- Postpolypectomy bleeding
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) colopathy
- Upper GI bleeding (rapid transport)
- Prostate biopsy site bleeding
- Endometriosis
Contributors
Authors
Praveen Roy, MD
Clinical Assistant, Professor of Medicine
University of New Mexico
NM
Disclosures
PR declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Ian Jenkins, MB BS
Specialist Registrar
Division of Surgery
North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust
Glasgow
UK
Disclosures
IJ declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewer acknowledgements
BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.
Disclosures
Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.
References
Key articles
Sengupta N, Feuerstein JD, Jairath V, et al. Management of patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: an updated ACG guideline. Am J Gastroenterol. 2023 Feb 1;118(2):208-31.Full text Abstract
Oakland K, Chadwick G, East JE, et al. Diagnosis and management of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: guidelines from the British Society of Gastroenterology. Gut. 2019 May;68(5):776-89.Full text Abstract
Expert Panel on Interventional Radiology; Karuppasamy K, Kapoor BS, Fidelman N, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Radiologic management of lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding: 2021 update. Am Coll Radiol. 2021 May;18(5S):S139-52.Full text Abstract
Pasha SF, Shergill A, Acosta RD, et al; ASGE Standards of Practice Committee. The role of endoscopy in the patient with lower GI bleeding. Gastrointest Endosc. 2014 Jun;79(6):875-85.Full text Abstract
Reference articles
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