What is "hematochezia"

n. (context medicine English) The presence of fresh blood in stools, often due to lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

n. passage of stools containing blood (as from diverticulosis or colon cancer or peptic ulcer) [syn: haematochezia]

Haematochezia (or hematochezia, from Greek αἷμα ("blood") and χέζειν ("to defaecate")) is the passage of fresh blood through the anus, usually in or with stools (contrast with melena). Haematochezia is commonly associated with lower gastrointestinal bleeding, but may also occur from a brisk upper gastrointestinal bleed. The difference between hematochezia and rectorrhagia is that, in the latter, rectal bleeding is not associated with defecation; instead, it is associated with expulsion of fresh bright red blood without stools. The phrase bright red blood per rectum (BRBPR) is associated with hematochezia and rectorrhagia.