Dizziness in Surgery — 78yo Woman | General Surgery | SMLE Q#12081
SMLE Question #12081
Surgery
General Surgery
Objective: OBJ-TRACH-EMERG-01
Last updated: February 2026
A 78-year-old woman has 2 hours of sudden-onset passage of large amounts of bright red blood per rectum with dizziness and weakness. History includes hypertension and osteoarthritis; she takes amlodipine and intermittent NSAIDs. She is pale and diaphoretic. Abdominal examination shows diffuse tenderness without peritonitis, and rectal examination reveals large amounts of fresh blood. She received 2 units of packed red blood cells, but remains hypotensive with ongoing brisk bleeding, and rapid bowel preparation is not feasible. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
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