Melena causes: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 06:15, 23 July 2014
Melena Microchapters
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
Case Studies |
Melena causes On the Web |
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Melena causes |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ogheneochuko Ajari, MB.BS, MS [2]
Overview
The most common cause of melena is peptic ulcer disease. Any other cause of bleeding from the upper gastro-intestinal tract, or even the ascending colon, can also cause melena. Melena may also be a sign of drug overdose if a patient is taking anti-coagulants, such as warfarin. A less serious, self-limiting case of melena can occur in newborns two to three days after delivery, due to swallowed maternal blood.
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.
Common Causes
- Duodenal ulcer
- Esophagitis
- Esophageal varices
- Gastric tumors
- Gastric ulcer
- Gastritis
- Mallory-Weiss syndrome
- Peptic ulcer