In this situation, any tests that need to be done can be done as an outpatient. In most cases the bleed is mild and intermittent. When you have GI bleeding, the things that a doctor needs to assess include the following: How bad (severe) the bleeding isīleeding can range from a mild trickle to a massive life-threatening severe bleed (haemorrhage). Types of rectal bleeding/GI tract bleeding The rectum stores stools (faeces) before they are passed out from the anus.
The colon leads into the back passage (rectum) which is about 15 cm long. Some water and salts are absorbed into the body from the colon. This is split into four sections: the ascending (on the right side of your tummy), transverse (across the top of your tummy), descending (on the left side of your tummy) and sigmoid colon (in your pelvis). The main part of the large intestine is called the colon, which is about 150 cm long. Undigested food, water and waste products are then passed into the large intestine (sometimes called the large bowel). The small intestine (sometimes called the small bowel) is several metres long and is where food is digested and absorbed. The stomach starts to break up the food and then passes it into the small intestine.
When we eat or drink, the food and liquid travel down the gullet (oesophagus) into the stomach. The gut (gastrointestinal tract) starts at the mouth and ends at the anus.