
Lower GI bleeds typically occur in the colon, rectum, or anus and are caused by diverticular disease, gastrointestinal cancers, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis), infectious diarrhea, angiodysplasia, polyps, hemorrhoids, and anal fissures. The presence of an upper GI bleed is often indicated by the vomiting of blood, which can be bright red or take on the appearance of coffee grounds. An upper GI bleed is the more common scenario, accounting for about two thirds of all GI bleeds. Upper GI bleed causes include peptic ulcers, gastritis, cancer, esophageal varices (due to cancer or liver cirrhosis), and inflammation of the GI lining caused by ingested materials. GI bleed causes depend on whether the bleed is located in the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract. These complications can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. They may be caused by procedures, treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, or the disease itself. Other gastrointestinal complications, including GI obstructions, fecal impactions, and radiation enteritis, are common in cancer patients. The GI bleed itself is not a disease, but it can be a result/sign of a number of different conditions.

A GI bleed can range from mild, with small, non-visible amounts of blood, to severe, with massive bleeding that can lead to shock. When bleeding happens in any part of the GI tract, it is called gastrointestinal bleeding, or a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. GI complications are issues that occur within the GI tract, which can include bleeding, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, incontinence, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.


It includes the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum, and anus. The gastrointestinal tract is part of the digestive system, which extracts energy and nutrients from food and helps excrete waste from the body. At Kindred Hospitals, our goal is to treat GI complications as quickly and completely as possible, so you can transition easily from hospital to home. If you or a loved one is recovering from complications of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, GI obstruction, or another GI disorder, it’s critical to have an experienced team of medical professionals to support what can sometimes be a difficult recovery process.
