When Is Surgery Needed for Rectal Bleeding?

Whenever a person experiences rectal bleeding, it is necessary to seek medical advice. That is referring to bleeding that originates from the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the anus through the colon.

While patients often worry about severe causes, it’s crucial to clarify that neurological reasons do not directly cause rectal bleeding.

Most of the time, rectal bleeding is caused by problems in the GI tract. Some are easy to treat, and others may be severe.

Symptoms of Rectal Bleeding?

• Many times, these are responsible for red blood, which tends to appear after people have difficulty moving their bowels.

• Diverticular Disease: Occasionally, tiny pouches located in the colon can bleed a lot.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a health condition.

• Conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease can cause inflammation and ulceration, leading to bloody stools.

• Polyps: Some growths found inside the colon are prone to bleeding and may turn into cancer.

• Colorectal Cancer: In older individuals, this type of cancer should be valued, since rectal bleeding might even happen early.

When Should Someone Undergo Surgery?

When medical methods cannot prevent continued rectal bleeding or the cause is found to be harmful, surgical help is usually advised. This includes:

• An individual is affected by severe bleeding when it persists or refuses to stop.

• When bleeding remains very heavy or happens regularly and results in low blood levels or instability in the body.

In Some Cases, Non-Surgical Treatments Do Not Work.

• For conditions like large, symptomatic hemorrhoids or chronic anal fissures that don’t respond to medication or lifestyle changes.

• Malignancy: If the test results show colorectal cancer or high-risk polyps, surgery is commonly done as the main treatment.

• Consequences of living with IBD are: For cases of IBD where bleeding, perforation, or strictures prove difficult to manage, part of the affected bowel might have to be surgically removed.

• There are particular vascular lesions. There are some diseases where chronic bleeding happens and cannot be controlled using endoscopy.

Conclusion

People should never ignore rectal bleeding. Though neurological problems do not induce this symptom, it’s still necessary to see a doctor without delay so the actual reason can be found.

The decision for surgery is a carefully considered one, based on the diagnosis, severity of bleeding, and the patient’s overall health, always targeting the specific GI pathology.

Dr. Kailash Mishra
Director & Gastroenterologist Consultant
Prime Gastro Liver Clinic