GI Bleed Localizer

The color of the blood tells you where · Week 13
One clue solves most GI bleeds: how digested the blood looks. Fresh blood is bright red. The longer it sits in acid and travels through the gut, the darker it turns. It goes from coffee grounds to black and tarry. Click each sign to trace it back to the source.

The GI tract

Esophagus → stomach → small intestine → colon → rectum. The lit-up spot is where this bleed starts.
Pick what you see to find the source.
Pick a signwhat shows up in vomit or stool

👆 What do you see?

Where's it from?

Upper versus lower. Hematemesis, coffee-ground emesis, and melena all point to an UPPER GI bleed, from the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. Common causes: burst esophageal varices, a bleeding peptic ulcer, esophagitis or gastritis, and stomach or esophageal cancer. NSAIDs, aspirin, or steroids often set them off.