#291 Upper vs Lower GI Bleeds | Diagnosis, Presentation, and Key Differences

WhiteBoard Medicine - Emergency And Critical Care · Jul 10, 2026 · 17m

Upper GI bleeding and lower GI bleeding are common causes of emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and critical care consultations. While both can present with gastrointestinal hemorrhage, the underlying causes, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management strategies often differ significantly. In this episode, we compare upper versus lower GI bleeding and discuss the key clinical findings that help clinicians distinguish between the two at the bedside. Topics include hematemesis, melena, hematochezia, common bleeding sources, diagnostic testing, endoscopy…