Hematemesis
Hematemesis | |
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Other names | Haematemesis |
Epistaxis, hemoptysis |
Hematemesis is the vomiting of blood. It can be confused with hemoptysis (coughing up blood) or epistaxis (nosebleed), which are more common. The source is generally the upper gastrointestinal tract, typically above the suspensory muscle of duodenum. It may be caused by ulcers, tumors of the stomach or esophagus, varices, prolonged and vigorous retching, gastroenteritis, ingested blood (from bleeding in the mouth, nose, or throat), or certain drugs.[citation needed]
Hematemesis is treated as a medical emergency, with treatments based on the amount of blood loss. Investigations include endoscopy. Any blood loss may be corrected with intravenous fluids and blood transfusions. Patients may need to avoid taking anything by mouth.[citation needed]
Definition
Hematemesis is the vomiting of blood.[1] This is usually vomit that contains bright red blood.[2] Coffee ground vomiting is similar to hematemesis, but is distinct in not involving bright red blood.[3]
Hematemesis must be differentiated from hemoptysis (coughing up blood) and epistaxis (nosebleed).[4] Both of these are more common conditions. These may be difficult to distinguish.
Differential diagnosis
Hematemesis may be caused by:
- , which causes severe disease.
- Vascular malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract, such as bleeding gastric varices or intestinal varices.[4]
- Mallory–Weiss syndrome: bleeding tears in the esophagal mucosa, usually caused by prolonged and vigorous retching.[4]
- Vomiting of ingested blood after bleeding in the mouth, nose, or throat.[4]
- Irritation or erosion of the lining of the esophagus or stomach.
- Radiation poisoning.
- Viral hemorrhagic fevers.
- Gastroenteritis.[4]
- Gastritis.
- Chronic viral hepatitis.
- Hepatic schistosomiasis, or intestinal schistosomiasis.[5] This is caused by the parasite Schistosoma mansoni.[5]
- transesophageal echocardiography)
- Atrio-oesophageal fistula.
- Yellow fever.
- Strongyloidiasis.[6]
- Certain drugs.[clarification needed][4]
- Plague, most commonly from septicemic plague.
- Liver cirrhosis.
- Vascular lesions, e.g. Dieulafay's disease.
Mechanism
The source of vomited blood is usually from the
Evaluation
Hematemesis may be investigated with
Management
This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2021) |
Hematemesis is treated as a medical emergency.[7][10] The most vital distinction is whether there is blood loss sufficient to cause shock. Correct management is required in such conditions. It is required to perform all tests such as endoscopy before medication. A platelet test is also an important test in such conditions. Medicines such as painkillers or antibiotics, e.g. ciprofloxacin, could decrease platelet count which can lead to thrombocytopenia (when the body does not have sufficient platelets in the blood and cannot form clots). In such conditions wrong medication or management could be deadly. Blood transfusion is required in such conditions if the body loses more than 20 percent of body blood volume. Severe loss makes it impossible for the heart to pump a sufficient amount of blood to the body. In such conditions unmaintained blood volume could lead to hypovolemic shock (hypovolemic shock could lead to damage of body organs e.g. kidney, brain, or gangrene of arms or legs). An untreated patient could develop cerebral atrophy.[citation needed]
Minimal blood loss
In cases that do not involve
Significant blood loss
In a "hemodynamically significant" case of hematemesis, there may be
Techniques
Hematemesis, melena, and hematochezia are symptoms of acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Bleeding that brings the patient to the physician is a potential emergency and must be considered as such until its seriousness can be evaluated. The goals in managing a major acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage are to treat hypovolemia by restoring the blood volume to normal, to make a diagnosis of the bleeding site and its underlying cause, and to treat the cause of the bleeding as definitively as possible. The history should be directed toward (1) confirming the presence of bleeding; (2) estimating its amount and rapidity; (3) identifying the source and potential specific causes; and (4) eliciting the presence of serious associated diseases that might adversely affect the outcome. The information obtained is especially helpful in identifying situations that require aggressive management.
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 9781582556680.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-323-08500-7.
- ISBN 978-0-323-06397-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7020-5401-3.
- ^ S2CID 58998251.
- PMID 25682625.
- ^ PMID 21250251.
- ^ PMID 4105170.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4443-2731-1, retrieved 2021-12-01
- ^ "Vomiting blood (haematemesis)". nhs.uk. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
- S2CID 257574421.