GI Bleeding

David Green, MD, PhD

Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL

This case was reviewed and updated in March 2010 by Dr. Alvin H. Schmaier and members of the Teaching Cases Subcommittee.

Copyright of the American Society of Hematology, 2006. ISSN: 1931-6860.

I. HISTORY

PATIENT PRESENTATION

A 51-year-old woman sees her physician because of abdominal cramping and diarrhea. Large amounts of blood are present in her stools. She has a past history of a peptic ulcer and hypertension. The surgeon who is also evaluating her is concerned about the amount of blood in the stool and has asked the referring physician to rule out a coagulopathy.

What is your first step in evaluating this patient?

Take additional history
Start laboratory tests

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