Gastrointestional Bleeding Pearls. [Quick Facts]
- Peptic ulcer disease has 2 main etiologies: 1) Helicobacter pylorus infection and 2) NSAID use. Zollinger Ellison Syndrome causes 1% of peptic ulcer disease.
- Hemorrhage is the most common complication of peptic ulcer disease, occurring in 15% of patients
- 25% of patients over the age of 60 years have an AV malformation.
- The most common cause of significant lower GI bleeding in the elderly is diverticulosis or angiodysplasia. That typically presents as painless bright red rectal bleeding.
- AV malformations are the number 2 cause of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
- Rectal bleeding following AAA repair is from aortoenteric fistula until proven otherwise.