title: The Approach to Occult Gastrointestinal Bleed.
abstract: Occult gastrointestinal bleeding is not visible and may present with a positive fecal occult blood test or iron deficiency anemia. Obscure bleeding can be overt or occult, with no source identified despite an appropriate diagnostic workup. A stepwise approach to this evaluation after negative upper and lower endoscopy has been shown to be cost effective. This includes repeat endoscopies if warranted, followed by video capsule endoscopy (VCE) if no obstruction is present. If the VCE is positive then specific endoscopic intervention may be possible. If negative, patients may undergo either repeat testing or watchful waiting with iron supplements.
authors.affiliation: Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, 114 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105, USA. Electronic address: enaut@stfranciscare.org.
authors.forename: Edgar R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Naut
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009780:Occult Blood; D010808:Physical Examination
keywords: Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding; Occult gastrointestinal bleeding; Small bowel bleeding