Gastrointestinal haemorrhage

Gastrointestinal haemorrhage may be classified by anatomical site (i.e. upper gastrointestinal or lower gastrointestinal) or by mode of presentation (i.e. acute or chronic, frank or occult). The mode of presentation may give clues as to the likely cause of the blood loss. Most pathologies leading to gastrointestinal haemorrhage can present acutely with frank loss of blood and signs of circulatory compromise or more insidiously. The latter may present with symptoms of anaemia or be related to an ongoing pathological process. In this contribution, upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage and lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage are discussed separately and the emphasis is on the acute presentation of gastrointestinal haemorrhage.