Colonoscopy for diagnosis and treatment of severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Routine outcomes and cost analysis.
Approximately 10% to 15% of patients seen by gastroenterologists have severe, ongoing hematochezia, which most physicians assume is from a lower gastrointestinal (LGI) source. This article discusses current colonoscopic diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe LGI bleeding. The authors present their approach to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe hematochezia. They also discuss the specific lesions that cause this condition and the cost assessment of emergency colonoscopy compared to other approaches for diagnosis and treatment of severe hematochezia.
Jensen
D M
DM
University of California, Los Angeles Center for the Health Sciences, 44-138 CHS, Division of Digestive Diseases, UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1684, USA.
Machicado
G A
GA
D000368:Aged; D016888:Angiodysplasia / Q000150:complications; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003113:Colonoscopy; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004241:Diverticulum, Colon / Q000150:complications; D004630:Emergencies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009780:Occult Blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000150:complications