Rectal Bleeding
Medical Author: Dennis Lee, MD
Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD
What is rectal bleeding?
Definition and description
Rectal bleeding (known medically as hematochezia) refers to passage of bright
red blood from the anus, often mixed with stool and/or blood clots. (It is
called rectal bleeding because the rectum lies immediately above the anus.
Although the bleeding indeed may be coming from the rectum, as discussed later,
it also may be coming from other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.) The
severity of rectal bleeding (i.e., the quantity of blood loss) varies widely.
Most episodes of rectal bleeding are mild and stop on their own. Many patients report only passing a few drops of fresh blood that turns
the toilet water pink or seeing spots of blood on the tissue paper. Others may
report brief passage of a spoonful or two of blood. Generally, mild rectal
bleeding can be evaluated and treated in the doctor's office without
hospitalization or the need for urgent diagnosis and treatment.
Rectal bleeding also may be moderate or severe. Patients with moderate
bleeding will repeatedly pass larger quantities of bright or dark red blood
often mixed with blood clots. Patients with severe bleeding may pass several
bowel movements or a single bowel movement containing a large amount of blood.
Moderate or severe rectal bleeding can quickly deplete a patient's body of
blood, leading to symptoms of weakness, dizziness, near-fainting or fainting, and
signs of low blood pressure or orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure
when going from the sitting or lying position to the standing position). Rarely,
the bleeding may be so severe as to cause shock from the loss of blood. Moderate
or severe rectal bleeding usually is evaluated and treated in the hospital. Patients
with signs and symptoms of a reduced volume of blood often require emergency
hospitalization, and transfusion of blood.
Next: Origin of rectal bleeding »
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