Hematemesis

What is hematemesis?

Hematemesis means vomiting blood. You may vomit blood along with your stomach contents, or blood alone. It may be fresh and bright red, or older, darker and coagulated, like coffee grounds. Hematemesis is a sign of internal bleeding from the upper portion of your digestive tract — the esophagus, stomach and first portion of your small intestine called the duodenum. If you’re vomiting blood, you should seek medical attention right away.

What are the possible causes of hematemesis?

Conditions that most commonly cause hematemesis include:

1. Bleeding ulcers. A peptic ulcer is an open sore in your stomach or duodenum. It’s often caused by a bacterial infection, or by the regular use of NSAIDs or aspirin.
2. Acute inflammation. Inflammation of your esophagus or stomach lining can cause bleeding from the arteries underneath. Heavy alcohol use, aspirin and NSAIDs, and severe acid reflux are common causes.
3. Enlarged blood vessels that rupture. Portal hypertension, a consequence of cirrhosis, causes increased pressure in your abdominal veins. This can lead to enlargement of the veins in your esophagus and stomach, making them fragile and easy to break. Bleeding from these varices can be extremely serious.
4. Chronic pancreatitis. Long-term pancreatitis can damage the blood vessels surrounding your pancreas, leading to rupture and bleeding. The blood can travel into your duodenum.

All Symptoms