Question

A nurse is caring for a newly admitted patient with a suspected GI bleed. The nurse assesses the patients stool after a bowel movement and notes it to be a tarry-black color. This finding is suggestive of bleeding from what location?

1) Sigmoid colon
2) Upper GI tract
3) Large intestine
4) Anus or rectum

Answer 1

The tarry-black stool observed by the nurse suggests that the bleeding is coming from the upper GI tract, due to the digestive alteration of the blood making it dark and tarry, known as melena.

Step-by-step explanation:

The tarry-black color of the stool, known as melena, is indicative of bleeding from the upper GI tract. When there is bleeding in parts of the gastrointestinal system, such as the esophagus, stomach, or the upper portion of the small intestine, the blood has time to be digested and broken down by enzymes. This process turns the blood dark and tarry, leading to the characteristic color and consistency noted in melena. The other locations listed, such as the sigmoid colon, large intestine, and anus or rectum, typically result in blood that is brighter red in appearance, indicating a lower source of bleeding.