TY - JOUR A2 - Al-Kawas, Firas H. AU - Sittichanbuncha, Yuwares AU - Senasu, Suthasinee AU - Thongkrau, Theerayut AU - Keeratikasikorn, Chaiyapon AU - Sawanyawisuth, Kittisak PY - 2013 DA - 2013/11/18 TI - How to Differentiate Sites of Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients with Hematochezia by Using Clinical Factors? SP - 265076 VL - 2013 AB - Hematochezia is one of common gastrointestinal complaint at the Emergency Department (ED). Causes may be due to upper (UGIB) or lower (LGIB) gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Here, clinical factors were studied to differentiate sites of bleeding in patients with hematochezia. All patients with an age of more than 18 years who were diagnosed with GIB at the ED, Ramathibodi Hospital, Thailand were enrolled. Patients who presented with hematochezia and received complete workups to identify causes of bleeding were studied and categorized as being in the UGIB or LGIB groups. There were 1,854 patients who presented with GIB at the ED. Of those, 76 patients presented with hematochezia; 30 patients were in the UGIB group, while 43 patients were in the LGIB group. Clinical variables between both groups were mostly comparable. Three clinical factors were significantly associated with UGIB causes in patients with hematochezia including systolic blood pressure, hematocrit level, and BUN/Cr ratio. The adjusted odds ratios for all three factors were 0.725 (per 5 mmHg increase), 0.751 (per 3% increase), and 1.11 (per unit increase). Physicians at the ED could use these clinical factors as a guide for further investigation in patients who presented with hematochezia. SN - 1687-6121 UR - https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/265076 DO - 10.1155/2013/265076 JF - Gastroenterology Research and Practice PB - Hindawi Publishing Corporation KW - ER -