Hematemesis is caused by upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to certain diseases, such as gastric and duodenal ulcers, acute erosive gastritis, and esophageal and gastric varices associated with liver cirrhosis. Blood needs to be vomited through the mouth, and there is usually abdominal discomfort and nausea before vomiting. The occurrence of vomiting blood indicates that the upper gastrointestinal bleeding is relatively urgent and the amount is large. While vomiting, it will also flow down and form black stool through the anus. But if the amount of bleeding is small or the bleeding site is in the lower digestive tract, only black stool will appear.
In cases of massive vomiting of blood, acute bleeding symptoms such as palpitations, cold sweats, pale complexion, and even decreased blood pressure may occur. The condition is quite critical and can even be fatal. If conscious, be careful not to swallow the blood, as during heavy bleeding, swallowing blood can easily lead to blood entering the respiratory tract. To maintain a lateral or prone position, it may stimulate the stomach and duodenum, worsen bleeding, and cause vomiting that can block the respiratory tract and cause suffocation. Family members should call 120 for help as soon as possible. During the waiting process, do not move the patient randomly. The patient should lie on their side and rest quietly, avoiding various stimuli as much as possible, otherwise it will worsen vomiting blood. Family members should promptly remove blood clots from the patient's mouth to ensure smooth breathing. In addition, eating is strictly prohibited. It is best to take medication with a small amount of cold water to avoid aggravating bleeding. If the patient vomits too much blood and their face is pale and their consciousness is blurred, their family members should raise their lower limbs to increase the amount of blood returned to the brain and ensure blood supply.
In addition, it is important to observe the color and amount of vomit and stool. If blood is immediately vomited after bleeding, the blood will appear bright red. If the blood stays in the stomach for a period of time and is vomited again after being treated by stomach acid, it will appear coffee colored. In addition to vomiting blood, more blood is excreted from the intestines. Due to the interaction between hemoglobin in the blood and sulfides in the intestines, black iron sulfide is formed, so the discharged blood is usually tar like black stool. In rare cases, when there is a large amount of bleeding and blood passes quickly through the intestine, the discharged blood may also be dark red or occasionally bright red.
Regardless of the amount of bleeding, whether it is bright red or dark red, it is necessary to go to the hospital for examination. Gastroscopy examination can quickly and correctly diagnose the bleeding site and cause, and has been listed as the preferred examination method. If necessary, hemostasis treatment can also be performed under endoscopy.