Gastrointestinal bleeding

Gastrointestinal bleeding refers to any bleeding that starts in the gastrointestinal tract, which extends from the mouth to the large bowel. The amount of bleeding can range from nearly undetectable to acute, massive, and life threatening. Bleeding may come from any site along the gastrointestinal tract, but is often divided into:

• Upper GI bleeding: The upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract is located between the mouth and outflow tract of the stomach.
• Lower GI bleeding: The lower GI tract is located from the outflow tract of the stomach to the anus (small and large bowel included).