Incidence of occult upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients presenting to the ED with hematochezia.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of nasogastric (NG) aspiration revealing a clinically unsuspected upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with hematochezia. A secondary aim was to identify factors associated with an upper GI source.

Methods: Data were prospectively collected from patients 18 years or older with either bright red blood per rectum or maroon stools.