GI Bleeding


Definition

Etiology

Neonates

Etiology
Dx
Notes
Swallowed maternal blood
Apt Test (Hbg alkaline denaturation test) - detects Hgb F
Hgb F >50%  = fetal blood
Hgb F <10% = maternal blood
Leaving the  stool sample exposed to air for >30min will result in false positive
Anorectal Fissures
Physical exam
More common in older children. Consider Trauma, rectal therapy/meds, thermometer related injury.
NEC
Septic Clinical picture, KUB showing dilated loops of bowel consistent with Ileus and Pneumatosis intestinalis (bubbles of gass in the bowel wall or in the portal system)

Malro / Volvulus
UGI series with failure of the duodenum to cross the midline confirms the diagnosis of malrotation. If UGI normal and clinical signs consistent with LGI obstruction, perform SBFT or barium contrast to look for colonic malrotation. Some experienced centers can Dx malro with doppler US (normal US cannot exclude malro)
Life threatening emergency.

Hirschprung Disease
Initial test: Contrast enema reveals marked dilation of normal bowel segment proximal to small aganglionic segment.  Anorectal Manometry can confirm diagnosis

Gold standard = rectal biopsy demonstrating complete absence of ganglion cells in the meissner and auerbach plexus
Squirt sign or blast sign (passage of large gas/stool with first digital rectal exam) suggest Dx

usually with delayed passage of meconium >48hrs after birth, signs of obstruction (25% with blood in stool - emergency decompression with DRE or rectal tube and start Abx)
Coagulopathy
look ofr other bleeding systems, family h/o bleeding
  • Vit -K deficiency
    • vit-k shot
    • maternal anticoagulants
  • Hemophilia
  • Von Willebrand disease


Infant and Toddlers

Etiology
Diagnosis
Notes
Anal Fissures
Physical exam
Rectal Exam
most common cause of rectal bleeding <1yo
Milk/Soy induced proctocolitis


Trial of hydrolysed protein formula or 2wk trial of maternal dairy and soy elimination diet
occult or gross blood in stool in otherwise healthy infant. 25% cross react with soy. resolves by 9-18mo with total elimination. Use alimentum or nutramigen

FPIES (food protein induced enterocolitis) - usually presents with vomiting and ill appearance
Intussusception
Abd US
or
Air contrast enema which can also be therapeutic
current jelly stool ( blood mucoid stools) may have palpable suasage mass in RUQ or near transverse colon. may wake up in pain, vomit pass stool, symtpoms resolve and the cycle repeats
Meckel's diverticulum
Meckels scan (nuc med)
Painless rectal bleeding  usually caused by mucosal ulceration secondary to acid produced by ectopic gastric tissue in the diverticulum. can also have ulceration, perforation, obstruction, diverticulitis, intussusception (lead point)
Lymphonodular hypoplasia

may lead to mucosal thinning and predispose to ulceration and hematochezia.
Tx with stool softeners
GI Duplication Cyst

Often do not communicate with bowel lumen
Infantile or VEO-IBD

Genetically different from IBD which presents at an older age.

Preschool

Etiology
Diagnosis
Notes
Infectious Colitis
Cx
Stool PCR

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Microangiopathic Hemolytic anemia
Thrombocytopenia
Acute renal injury
usually due to prodromal infection: shiga-like toxin, E Coli 0157:H7 (bloody diarrhea common)
IgA vasculitis
Palpable purpura
Abd pain (50% GI bleed)
Arthralgias
Ages 3-15yrs, systemic vasculitis. Can be complicated by intussusception (purpuric lesions within the GI tract serve as lead point)
Juvenile polyps
Colonoscopy
All polyps should be removed and sent for eval by pathology

if 3-5 or more polyps are found patient should undergo neoplasia surveillance colonoscopy q2-3yrs
Benign hamartomas
Ages 2-10
Painless rectal bleeding
-Up to 10% are adenomas (3% hyperplastic)


Other more rare causes of GI bleeding