bright red blood per rectum (BRBPR)

Etiology

• see hematochezia

Pathology

• red blood in the stool generally originates in the colon, rectum or anus
• less frequently brisk bleeding from the small intestine may result in red blood in the stool

Diagnostic procedures

• see lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage
• anoscopy (hemmorhoids)
• see hematochezia

Management

• additional investigation (beyond anoscopy) indicated in patients > 50 years of age
• visualization of hemorrhoid or other source of bleed in patient < 40 years of age may obviate need for lower GI endoscopy
• see lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage

More general terms

• hematochezia; bloody stool, maroon stool