NTRODUCTION - Lower Gastrointestinal(GI) bleeding refers to blood loss of recent onset originating from a site
distal to the ligament of Treitz.1It usually presents as hematochezia i.e. passage of maroon or bright red blood or blood
clots per rectum. Lower GI bleeding ( LGIB) accounts for almost 20% of all cases of acute GI bleeding.2 The etiology and the epidemiology of
LGIB varies according to the environmental conditions depending upon the life style, dietary habits, the prevalence of smoking, history of drug
intake, age and longevity of the population etc.2 Most of the studies pertaining to the etiologies of Lower GI bleeding are from the West. Data
relating to the incidence and etiologies of Lower GI bleed in India is scarce hence this study was undertaken to identify the etiological profile of
patients presenting with Lower GI bleeding in a tertiary care hospital in the northern part of India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS - It is a Cross-sectional study done over a period of 1 year from January, 2018 to December, 2018. All the
patients above 18 years of age with first presentation of Lower GI bleeding to the Department of Medicine, SRMS- IMS, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
during the period of study are included in the study.
RESULTS - A total of 232 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Majority of the patients were males (69.8%).
Hematochezia (86%) was the most common presenting feature and was commonly associated with constipation (46%), abdominal pain (32%)
and loss of weight (11%). 8% of the patients had a history of Diabetes. Alcohol consumption was seen in 17% of the patients while 26% of the
patients had a history of smoking. The most common etiology of Lower GI bleed seen was Hemorrhoids (35.3%), followed by Inflammatory
Bowel disease(16.3%), Malignancy(12%) and Radiation proctosigmoiditis (11.2%).
CONCLUSION - LGIB is a common and alarming presenting condition in the practice of gastroenterology. It was found that Lower GI bleed is
more common in males, usually in the 3rd to 4th decade of life and most commonly presents with hematochezia. Haemorrhoids, IBD and
Malignancy were the major causes of Lower GI bleed.
A Retrospective Analysis of Blunt Trauma Abdomen in Patients Attending the Emergency Department in a Tertiary Care Hospital
