Management of Patients With Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Bleeding

Acute lower GI tract bleeding is a common reason for hospitalization, with an estimated annual incidence of 20 to 35 per 100 000 persons.¹ Although lower GI tract bleeding typically implies a bleeding source originating from the colon or rectum, up to 15% of patients with presumed lower GI tract bleeding may have an upper GI tract bleeding source.² Although colonoscopy is commonly used as a diagnostic test and potentially therapeutic procedure, it is unclear whether early use of colonoscopy is associated with improved clinical outcomes.³