Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Lower intestinal bleeding

2001; Elsevier BV; Volume: 15; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1053/bega.2000.0160

1532-1916

Thomas Lingenfelser, Christian Ell,

Esophageal and GI Pathology

Lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding is a frequent cause of physician consultations and hospital admissions. Clinical presentation is predictable and significantly influences subsequent patient management. Controversy surrounding diagnosis and treatment of lower gastrointestinal bleeding results from a surprising lack of prospective controlled data. Thus, selection of diagnostic and therapeutic manoeuvres often depends more on local expertise and availability than on an algorithm approach. Advances in endoscopic, radiological and surgical equipment and techniques offer promising new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, particularly in concerted applications. Outcome studies on the appropriate sequence and linking of these modalities are urgently needed. The present chapter will address clinical presentation, aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding.