A: Approximately 50% of adults over the age of 50 have hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are the most common etiology of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Internal hemorrhoids arise from the superior hemorrhoidal plexus above the dentate line. These hemorrhoids are lined by rectal mucosa. Internal and external hemorrhoids freely communicate to drain the lower rectum and anus through the internal pudendal vein and inferior vena cava. Bleeding is the most common presentation of hemorrhoids, manifesting as bright red blood on the toilet paper or blood dripping into the toilet bowl. It is usually at the end of defecation and is separate from the stool. Patients may rarely have severe bleeding requiring transfusions or chronic blood loss leading to iron deficiency anemia. Hemorrhoids are not considered an explanation for occult gastrointestinal bleeding unless colonoscopy has first ruled out other causes.
A: Approximately 50% of adults over the age of 50 have hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are the most common etiology of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Internal hemorrhoids arise from the superior hemorrhoidal plexus above the dentate line. These hemorrhoids are lined by rectal mucosa. Internal and external hemorrhoids freely communicate to drain the lower rectum and anus through the internal pudendal vein and inferior vena cava. Bleeding is the most common presentation of hemorrhoids, manifesting as bright red blood on the toilet paper or blood dripping into the toilet bowl. It is usually at the end of defecation and is separate from the stool. Patients may rarely have severe bleeding requiring transfusions or chronic blood loss leading to iron deficiency anemia. Hemorrhoids are not considered an explanation for occult gastrointestinal bleeding unless colonoscopy has first ruled out other causes.
ReplyDeleteThe treatment seen here is endoscopic banding.
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