Gastrointestinal bleeding is a must-know Surgery Shelf topic because the first step is always the same: decide if it is an upper bleed or a lower bleed, then determine how sick the patient is. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down the classic presentations of hematemesis, melena, and hematochezia, then walk through the most important causes like peptic ulcer disease, varices, diverticulosis, angiodysplasia, hemorrhoids, and anal fissures.

They also cover the high-yield workup and management, including initial stabilization, when to use upper endoscopy versus colonoscopy, when computed tomography angiography is the right next step, and the key medications for upper gastrointestinal bleeding such as proton pump inhibitors, octreotide, and antibiotics in cirrhotic patients. This is a fast, shelf-focused review built to help you quickly recognize the source of bleeding and choose the correct next step.