Surgery » General Surgery » Anal & Perianal

Rectal bleeding: evaluation

Rectal bleeding is passage of bright red blood from the anus, usually mixed with stool and/or blood clots. Most cases have bleeding coming from either the colon, rectum or anus with the color of the blood depending on the location of the bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. The closer the bleeding site is to the anus, the blood is bright red. Thus, bleeding from the anus, rectum and sigmoid is bright red, with bleeding from the transverse colon and the right colon tend to be dark red or maroon. Common causes include anal fissures, piles, malignancy and polyps of the rectum and colon, diverticulosis and ulcerative colitis. Detailed history and examination are enough to narrow down exact cause. Some cases may require sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.

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