Surgery for Gastrointestinal Bleeding


Surgery for Gastrointestinal Bleeding is done to treat Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding which dis a symptom of a disorder in your digestive tract.

July 21, 2022

Surgery for Gastrointestinal Bleeding is done to treat Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding which dis a symptom of a disorder in your digestive tract.

Some facts about Surgery for Gastrointestinal Bleeding:

  • The blood because of GI bleeding often appears in stool or vomit but isn't always visible.
  • The level of bleeding can be life-threatening and range from mild to severe.
  • The cause of the bleeding can be located by the help of imaging technology.
  • You could go into shock if your bleeding starts abruptly and progresses rapidly.
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding can occur both in the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract.

Preparation for Surgery for Gastrointestinal Bleeding:

  • Avoid eating and drinking anything eight hours before Gastrointestinal Bleeding Surgery.
  • You mare allowed to drink a sip of water with your medications if needed.
  • Any history of bleeding disorders or are taking any blood-thinning medicines, aspirin, or or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications that affect blood clotting should be informed to your healthcare provider as you may need to stop taking these medicines before your surgery.
  • The possible complications and side effects, the risks, and what the operation involves  will be discussed with you by your doctor.
  • A medical history, including a history of previous bleeding will be taken by your doctor.
  • A physical exam will also be conducted.
  • Blood tests, Stool tests, Nasogastric lavage, Upper endoscopy, Colonoscopy, Capsule endoscopy, Flexible sigmoidoscopy, Balloon-assisted enteroscopy, Angiography and variety of other imaging tests, such as an abdominal CT scan, might be used to find the source of the bleed.

Procedure for Surgery for Gastrointestinal Bleeding:

  • Medication or a procedure can be given to control the bleeding during some tests.
  • A  bleeding peptic ulcer can be treated during an upper endoscopy or polyps can be  removed during a colonoscopy.
  • You may be given an IV drug known as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to suppress stomach acid production if you have an upper GI bleed.
  • Your doctor will determine whether you need to continue taking a PPI once the source of the bleeding is identified.
  • You may require fluids through a needle (IV) and, possibly, blood transfusions depending on the amount of blood loss and whether you continue to bleed.
  • Conservative treatment with nasogastric suction and broad-spectrum antibiotics can be instituted in patients who are poor operative candidates
  • Although, nonsurgical techniques became the procedures of choice for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, surgical operations are still necessary for controlling bleeding lesions.
  • Generally, surgical intervention should be considered in patients with a perforated viscus such as, from perforated duodenal ulcer, perforated gastric ulcer, or Boerhaave syndrome.
  • Laparoscopic surgeries are widely used for GI bleeding as these have an advantage of less postoperative pain and wound problem, quicker recovery, and shorter hospital stay.
  • Emergency surgery in UBIG typically done by oversewing the bleeding vessel in the stomach or duodenum, vagotomy with pyloroplasty, or partial gastrectomy. 
  • Emergent use should be mitigated by skillful surgeons because most patients are relatively unstable and time-limited. 
  • A segmental bowel resection including the offending lesion, followed by a primary anastomosis is usually appropriate and safe in the most stable patients.
  • An emergency laparotomy with an intraoperative colonoscopy is one option to identify the bleeding site It is followed by a segmental colectomy.