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What Causes Black Discolouration In Stool After An EVL Procedure?
Question: My father age 67 has been diagnosed with esophageal varices and mild liver fibrosis leading to portal hypertension.
He went to the hospital with hemoglobin levels of 6.3 and occult blood in stool.
EVL was performed and 4 bands put in . 2 units of PRBC were transfused and ARFI test done which showed mild fibrosis . The bloodwork has ruled out hepatitis and he is a tea toalter. They have the more blood work to find any auto immune disorder.
My questions are :
2 days after EVL a he has been discharged but continues to have black stool? His heamoglobin levels have been on the rise without transfusion and are up to 7.9 .
Is black stool something to be concerned about or could it be old impacted blood coming out from the system.
What should he be looking out for in the next week before his next appointment .
He went to the hospital with hemoglobin levels of 6.3 and occult blood in stool.
EVL was performed and 4 bands put in . 2 units of PRBC were transfused and ARFI test done which showed mild fibrosis . The bloodwork has ruled out hepatitis and he is a tea toalter. They have the more blood work to find any auto immune disorder.
My questions are :
2 days after EVL a he has been discharged but continues to have black stool? His heamoglobin levels have been on the rise without transfusion and are up to 7.9 .
Is black stool something to be concerned about or could it be old impacted blood coming out from the system.
What should he be looking out for in the next week before his next appointment .
Brief Answer:
Present black stool can be due to previous blood in GI tract
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thanks for putting your query in HCM. I am a Gastroenterologist (DM).
I can understand your concerns regarding your father.
Presence of black stool suggest presence of blood the source of which is usually from upper gastrointestinal tract that is stomach or initial part of small intestine.
Black stool can be there for 4 to 5 days after EVL as blood present at that time in upper GI tract takes 4 to 5 days to clear via stool. So it is the previous blood which is coming via stool. Moreover this can be assumed once again by the haemoglobin level which is on rise instead of fall if it had been fresh bleed.
So there is nothing of concern at present. Just monitor his stool color for another 2 to 3 days and may get his haemoglobin level every alternate day. If stool color remain so after 5 days and corresponding haemoglobin also falls. then revisit your doctor for evaluation
I hope I have answered your query and this will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to answer that too. Remain in touch and get-well soon.
Present black stool can be due to previous blood in GI tract
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thanks for putting your query in HCM. I am a Gastroenterologist (DM).
I can understand your concerns regarding your father.
Presence of black stool suggest presence of blood the source of which is usually from upper gastrointestinal tract that is stomach or initial part of small intestine.
Black stool can be there for 4 to 5 days after EVL as blood present at that time in upper GI tract takes 4 to 5 days to clear via stool. So it is the previous blood which is coming via stool. Moreover this can be assumed once again by the haemoglobin level which is on rise instead of fall if it had been fresh bleed.
So there is nothing of concern at present. Just monitor his stool color for another 2 to 3 days and may get his haemoglobin level every alternate day. If stool color remain so after 5 days and corresponding haemoglobin also falls. then revisit your doctor for evaluation
I hope I have answered your query and this will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to answer that too. Remain in touch and get-well soon.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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