Upper GI bleeding and lower GI bleeding are common causes of emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and critical care consultations. While both can present with gastrointestinal hemorrhage, the underlying causes, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management strategies often differ significantly. In this episode, we compare upper versus lower GI bleeding and discuss the key clinical findings that help clinicians distinguish between the two at the bedside. Topics include hematemesis, melena, hematochezia, common bleeding sources, diagnostic testing, endoscopy, colonoscopy, CT angiography, risk stratification, and practical approaches to evaluation and management. Whether you are a medical student, resident, fellow, advanced practice provider, nurse, respiratory therapist, hospitalist, emergency physician, gastroenterologist, or intensivist, this episode provides a high-yield framework for differentiating upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding in clinical practice. ▶️ Watch the full video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaWFS20mOkI 🌐 Explore WhiteBoard Medicine: https://www.whiteboardmedicine.com 📚 Looking for more emergency medicine and critical care education? The WhiteBoard Medicine Patreon includes: • Comprehensive Study Guides • Bedside One-Pagers • Clinical Reviews • Mini-Courses • Practice Questions • Ad-Free Videos • Structured Learning Collections Join here: https://www.patreon.com/WhiteBoardMedicine Educational Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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