hematochezia

hematochezia /he·ma·to·che·zia/ (he″mah-to-ke´zhah) defecation in which feces are bloody.

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he·ma·to·che·zi·a (hm-t-kz-, h-mt-)

n.

The passage of bloody stools.

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hematochezia

[hem′ətōkē′zhə]

Etymology: Gk, haima + chezo, feces

the passage of red blood through the rectum. The cause is usually bleeding in the colon or rectum, but it may result from the loss of blood higher in the digestive tract although blood passed from the stomach or small intestine generally loses its red coloration through enzymatic activity on the erythrocytes. Cancer, colitis, and ulcers are among causes of hematochezia. Compare melena.

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hematochezia

blood in the feces.

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hematochezia

Passage of bright red or maroon stool, usually due to blood; upper GI tract hemorrhage resulting in hematochezia implies a blood loss of ≥ 1000 ml, often accompanied by hypovolemia, hypotension, and tachycardia; lower GI or rectal hemorrhage may be guaiac-positive with ±25 ml–ie, blood is brighter red when more caudal