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Discussion

Coffee ground emesis

All of the information that I can find describes partially digested blood in the stomach as having a dark brown coffee ground appearance. When I was hospitalized with a hemorrhage from a duodenal ulcer, it looked instead like light brown floc, with no dark particles. This was the case both as it passed through the nasogastric tube while I was in the ED, and later when I vomited into the emesis basin while in the CCU.

The CCU nurse commented on the coffee ground appearance as being partially digested blood, and obviously, she was right. Is this light brown floc appearance typical of a duodenal bleed? I had been having episodes of this about once a year for the past few years. If I had known that this was partially digested blood, I would have called the squad the first time it happened, and gotten cured of my aspirin addiction long before I ended up with rectal bleeding and a 4 unit blood loss.

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What is "floc"?

steph

coffee ground emesis is very common in an upper gi bleed, including duodonal ulcer. bright red or 'fresh" blood in stool is indicative of a lower gi bleed. I would definitely cut out the aspirin, and probably the advil too if gi bleeding is a problem and stick with tylenol if possible. If it continues to be a problem you should probably see a GI guy and have a scope done to see where the bleeding is occuring from.

What is "floc"?

steph

a flock is slightly smaller than a fleck :chuckle

  • Author

Thanks for the replies. Floc particles in a solution have an indistinct outline, as opposed to the sharp, distinct appearance that coffee grounds would have. Bigger water and sewage treatment plants both have processes that create floc particles. You might also ask the hospital lab if any of their tests produce floc.

As far as my health, I have cleaned up my act. I never use more than 2 tylenol a day, and no aspirin or NSAIDS, to control the headaches (I was up to 5-6 Anacin a day prior to hospitalization). If this does not work, I put up with the pain. I have never used alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. I had an EGD, which showed a duodenal ulcer, and a colonoscopy, which showed no problems. In addition, the minor changes in eating habits that I made after being released from the hospital have resulted in a 25 pound weight loss, putting my weight about where it should be.

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