Advantages of multislice CT with contrast injection in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Le Anh Viet - Radiologist - Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
Gastrointestinal bleeding is a common medical condition, usually diagnosed based on clinical symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to rely on laboratory methods in which gastrointestinal endoscopy is the mainstay. However, in many cases where endoscopy is contraindicated in patients, multi-sequence CT is an effective way to diagnose gastrointestinal bleeding with outstanding advantages.

1. What is gastrointestinal bleeding?

Gastrointestinal bleeding is bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract lumen, into the gastrointestinal tract, This condition can occur in any part of the digestive tract such as esophagus, stomach, intestines or anus. The extent of damage and bleeding occurs at a severe or mild level, even shocking.

2. Symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding

Patients with gastrointestinal bleeding will have clinical manifestations depending on the severity of the bleeding. Accordingly, patients have warning symptoms but are often subjective:
Epigastric pain is more sudden than usual in patients with peptic ulcers Feeling of burning, burning, fatigue after use aspirin or corticosteroids... When the weather changes, it causes dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea, bad voice. Gastrointestinal bleeding will have obvious symptoms such as:
Vomiting bright red blood, or pink with digestive juices, dark brown color, new blood clots out, may form clots, but there are also cases black ripples mixed with food or mucus Black stools with other symptoms such as dizziness, dizziness, fatigue, rapid breathing, sweating, little urination, sometimes anuria. Severe bleeding can cause shock patients with symptoms of lethargy, cold head, extremities, sweating, rapid pulse, small, difficult to catch, blood pressure drops below 80 mmHg.
The condition of light bleeding with warning signs that the patient is not treated will become chronic, gradually causing anemia and danger.

3. Diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding by multi-slice CT with contrast injection

3.1 Who is indicated for a multi-sequence CT scan to diagnose gastrointestinal bleeding? Patients with bleeding have difficulty during endoscopy, Patients with contraindications to endoscopy, Patients unable to perform endoscopy in the stomach, colon filled with blood cannot insert the endoscope to find the bleeding point. Multi-slice CT with contrast injection will be indicated and performed quickly for patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Especially for patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, when endoscopy cannot find the bleeding point but only a lot of blood clots in the lumen of the digestive tract, multi-sequence computed tomography is performed.
3.2 Advantages of multi-sequence CT scan with contrast injection Multi-slice computed tomography with contrast injection accurately diagnoses the location and cause of gastrointestinal bleeding, is a very good salvage method for patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. massive blood. Accordingly, through multi-sequence CT scan with contrast, gastrointestinal bleeding conditions include:
Image of increased natural density of blood in the gastrointestinal tract in the pre-injection phase. Based on the location, the segment of intestine with increased density, partial orientation of high or low gastrointestinal bleeding Find the point of blood flow in the arteries based on signs of drug drainage, or blood vessels with free tips In the digestive lumen Accurately determine the cause of bleeding such as small bowel tumor, colon tumor, stomach bleeding, or ulcerative small intestine bleeding... Orientation of small intestine endoscopy for diagnosis and treatment. From the image results after multi-slice computed tomography with contrast, the doctor will easily diagnose the bleeding condition in the patient. Thereby quickly appointing timely and effective treatment.

4. Attention when using multi-sequence CT scan with contrast injection to diagnose gastrointestinal bleeding

In order to capture clear images and facilitate diagnosis, patients with gastrointestinal bleeding need to pay attention to the following:
Patients are required to inject contrast agent or not, depending on the location and type. testing Remove jewelry, metal personal items Wear hospital clothes before the scan Fasting about 4-6 hours before contrast injection Can be used with children sedation to keep the child still, Avoiding the situation of hyperactive children, making the captured images unclear, blurry, and noisy.

At the end of the scan, the patient can return to normal activities, so drink plenty of water to remove the remaining contrast agent in the body.
In general, patients with gastrointestinal bleeding should be examined as soon as they have the above clinical signs. Thus, the doctor can prescribe the most effective diagnostic method suitable for the condition and effective treatment.
Gastrointestinal bleeding is a dangerous medical emergency, if delayed and improperly handled, it can affect life. Therefore, in addition to handling immediately when detecting gastrointestinal bleeding, people at high risk need to have regular checkups, have a suitable diet and rest.
Vinmec International General Hospital system applies endoscopic hemostasis technique with clip in gastrointestinal bleeding, performed by a team of experienced and professional doctors; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space. Customers when choosing to perform tests and treat diseases here can be completely assured of the accuracy and high efficiency in the treatment process.
For detailed information, please contact the hospitals and clinics of Vinmec health system nationwide.

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