05-31-2007, 03:04 PM
77-year-old woman presents with 12 hours of passing bright red blood from her rectum in increasingly large amounts. She becomes dizzy on standing and appears pale. Her blood pressure is 112/60 mm Hg while standing and 90/56 mm Hg on sitting upright with her legs dangling over the side of the stretcher. Her abdominal examination is normal. Which of the following is the most likely cause of her bleeding?
A. A bleeding diverticulum in the appendix
B. A communication between an arteriole and venule in the cecum
C. A laceration at the gastroesophageal junction
D. Perforation of a sigmoid diverticulum
E. A rectal polyp
A. A bleeding diverticulum in the appendix
B. A communication between an arteriole and venule in the cecum
C. A laceration at the gastroesophageal junction
D. Perforation of a sigmoid diverticulum
E. A rectal polyp