Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding describes any bleeding that occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. The Gastrointestinal tract extends from the mouth to the anus. Gastrointestinal bleeding is often a sign of a disorder in your digestive tract. The level of bleeding ranges from mild to massive and life-threatening.
The cause of Gastrointestinal bleeding is often difficult to pinpoint, but the development of advanced imaging techniques allows the location of the bleeding to be determined.
The bleeding can originate from any site in the Gastrointestinal tract, but it is divided into:
- Upper Gastrointestinal bleeding that can occur between the mouth and the duodenum (first part of the small intestine)
- Lower Gastrointestinal bleeding that can occur between the small intestine and the anus