Evaluation and Treatment of GI Bleeding in a 51-Year-Old Man

Abstract

Question: A 51-year-old man with a history of hypertension presented to the emergency department for evaluation of rectal bleeding. He reported onset of diarrhea earlier in the day that turned black in color and changed into frank blood with clots. He had no known history of cirrhosis. On presentation, the patient was tachycardic with a pulse of 129 beats/min and hypotensive with a blood pressure of 89/46 mm Hg.