Lower intestinal bleeding

If you experience lower intestinal bleeding, our gastroenterology experts are able to diagnose and treat you

About

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a condition in your digestive tract. In contrast to upper gastrointestinal bleeding, LGIB originates in the small bowel and colon area. Symptoms range from passing blood in your faeces to severe abdominal pains. It can be mild or very serious. Our gastroenterologists can help to diagnose and treat you.

Need to know

Symptoms of lower intestinal bleeding

Symptoms of LGIB might include:

Maroon coloured faeces. This may result from bleeding on the right side of the colon
Passing bright red blood through the anus. This can be from bleeding on the left side of the colon
Dark coloured faeces with bleeding in the cecal (pouch at the beginning of the large intestine)

It is also possible for LGIB to originate from the digestive conditions such as:

Inflammatory bowel disease
Diverticulosis
Haemorrhoids
Colon polyps
Peptic ulcers
Cancerous tumours

Diagnosis

Your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you and help to make a diagnosis. Tests we offer to diagnose LGIB include:

Colonoscopy. A long and thin tube with a camera is passed through your anus, showing video images of your colon and bowels
Radionuclide scans. A radionuclide chemical is injected into a vein. Diseased cells in the lower intestine are picked up by the chemical and release gamma rays to a gamma camera
Angiography. A contrast dye inserted into your artery detects bleeding vessels through an X-ray
Blood tests
Endoscopic ultrasound. An ultrasound probe attached to an endoscope examines tissues in your digestive tract

Potential treatment options

Your consultant will discuss your treatment options and help to determine the best approach for you. Treatment options might include:

Endoscopic thermal probes can burn blood vessels around the intestine. This helps stop bleeding ulcers. This is also possible by injecting special fluids or glue in this area
Endoscopic clips to close bleeding vessels
Special endoscopic bands to tie bleeding hemorrhoids and vessels
Angiographic embolization blocks blood vessels by inserting particles into them
In some cases, surgery may be required to remove part of your intestine. Your consultant will discuss this procedure in detail with you