The Approach to Occult Gastrointestinal Bleed.

Edgar R Naut

Journal: The Medical clinics of North America 2017;100(5):1047-56

PMID: 27542424

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Occult gastrointestinal bleeding is not visible and may present with a positive fecal occult blood test or iron deficiency anemia. Obscure bleeding can be overt or occult, with no source identified despite an appropriate diagnostic workup. A stepwise approach to this evaluation after negative upper and lower endoscopy has been shown to be cost effective. This includes repeat endoscopies if warranted, followed by video capsule endoscopy (VCE) if no obstruction is present. If the VCE is positive then specific endoscopic intervention may be possible. If negative, patients may undergo either repeat testing or watchful waiting with iron supplements.

Address: Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, 114 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2016.04.013

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MeSH Terms: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency, Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal, Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage, Humans, Medical History Taking, Occult Blood, Physical Examination