The treatment of rectal bleeding depends on the cause of the bleeding. Bleeding due to diverticular disease, colitis or angiodysplasia may resolve spontaneously without intervention. However, recurrent bleeding may require endoscopic therapy, and severe massive life-threatening bleeding may sometimes even require surgery.
Haemorrhoids are generally treated with a combination of lifestyle and dietary advice, medications and/ or rubber band ligation of the haemorrhoids. This is done in the outpatient clinic. Surgery may be performed if the bleeding is recalcitrant in spite of medical therapy.
Bleeding as a result of colorectal cancer should be managed with surgery for the primary tumour.
