Occult gastrointestinal bleeding and iron deficiency anaemia

Published on 09/04/2015 by admin

Filed under Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Last modified 09/04/2015

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Chapter 23 OCCULT GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING AND IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA

This chapter concentrates on unexplained or occult gastrointestinal bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract and small intestine.

AETIOLOGY

Most causes of occult gastrointestinal bleeding derive from the small intestine. In patients aged 40 years or younger, small intestine tumours, Meckel’s diverticulum, polyposis syndromes and Crohn’s disease are more common. In patients over 40 years of age, arteriovenous malformation (the most common cause overall), neoplasia and Dieulafoy’s malformation are more prevalent. Some of the specific causes of gastrointestinal bleeding are listed below.

Stomach

Biliary tree

Pancreas

Colon

neck of the hernia rub against adjacent mucosa. The mainstay of medical treatment is acid suppressive therapy. If blood loss is severe or persistent, or if the ulceration of hernia is complicated, surgical repair of the hernia should be considered.