Definition & Facts of Gastrointestinal Bleeding

What is GI bleeding?

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is any type of bleeding that starts in your GI tract, also called your digestive tract. GI bleeding is a symptom of a complication of another disease or condition.

The digestive tract.

What are the types of GI bleeding?

GI bleeding is grouped by where in the GI tract the bleeding takes place.

• Upper GI bleeding occurs in the esophagus, stomach, or the upper duodenum. The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine.
• Small bowel GI bleeding occurs in the jejunum or ileum in the middle and lower small intestine.
• Lower GI bleeding occurs in the large intestine or the anus.

GI bleeding can be acute or chronic.

• Acute GI bleeding begins suddenly and may sometimes be severe.
• Chronic GI bleeding is light bleeding that can last a long time or may come and go.

How common is GI bleeding?

In the United States, GI bleeding leads to more than 1.5 million health care visits1 and half a million hospital stays each year.2 In addition, GI bleeding occurs in people in the hospital for other reasons in over half a million hospitalizations each year.1 Upper GI bleeding is more common than lower GI bleeding, which is more common than small bowel bleeding.

Who is more likely to have GI bleeding?

Anyone can have GI bleeding. The chance of having GI bleeding increases with age.3,4,5

You are also more likely to have GI bleeding if you have a disease or condition that can cause GI bleeding.

The chance of having GI bleeding increases with age.

References

1] Peery AF, Crockett SD, Murphy CC, et al. Burden and cost of gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreatic diseases in the United States: update 2021. Gastroenterology. 2022;162:621–644. Published October 19, 2021. Accessed April 10, 2024. [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10756322/

2] Laine L, Barkun AN, Saltzman JR, Martel M, Leontiadis GI. ACG clinical guideline: upper gastrointestinal and ulcer bleeding. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2021;116(5):899–917. Published May 2021. Accessed April 10, 2024. [https://journals.lww.com/ajg/fulltext/2021/05000/acg_clinical_guideline__upper_gastrointestinal_and.14.aspx

3] Rockey DC. Causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in adults. UpToDate. Updated July 13, 2022. Accessed March 12, 2024. [www.uptodate.com/contents/causes-of-upper-gastrointestinal-bleeding-in-adults

4] Sengupta N, Feuerstein JD, Jairath V, et al. Management of patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: an updated ACG guideline. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2023;118(2):208-231. Published February 2023. Accessed April 10, 2024. [https://journals.lww.com/ajg/fulltext/2023/02000/management_of_patients_with_acute_lower.14.aspx

5] Gerson LB, Fidler JL, Cave DR, Leighton JA. ACG clinical guideline: Diagnosis and management of small bowel bleeding. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2015;110(9):1265-1287. Published September 2015. Accessed April 10, 2024. [https://journals.lww.com/ajg/fulltext/2015/09000/acg_clinical_guideline__diagnosis_and_management.10.aspx

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