Examining a patient with rectal bleeding

Extract

• Rectal bleeding is defined as fresh or clotted blood in the faeces or in association with defecation.
• The colour of the faeces may be otherwise normal, in contrast to melena Haematemesis and melaena2, which is defined as black, tar-like stools or the maroon stool often seen with caecal bleeding.
• The site and cause of the bleeding must be identified, most importantly separating bleeding from the anal canal versus the proximal colon.
• Patients in whome the bleeding is caused by a tumour, inflammatory bowel disease or other severe condition requiring specific treatment must be identified, examined and treated.
• In patients with haemorrhoids, anal fissure, abrasions from scratching, or other mild condition, the treatment is symptomatic.

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Fissure in Ano, Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage, Hemorrhoids, Internal medicine, K62.5, K92.1, Melena, Melena, Proctoscopy, Rectal Prolapse, Sigmoidoscopy, Surgery, fecal blood, hematochezia, rectal bleeding, rectal touch, tenesmus