What it means
Vomit with this look contains blood that has stayed in the stomach long enough for stomach acid to turn it dark and clumpy. It points to bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as from a peptic ulcer, that is slow or has stopped. Bright red vomited blood means bleeding that is fresh and fast.
For the nurse
Measure and describe the vomit, check vital signs, and report it. Keep the client NPO and expect a hemoglobin check, IV access and possibly an endoscopy. Some foods and iron can darken vomit, so note what the client has eaten.
At a glance
| Also written | coffee ground emesis, coffee-ground vomitus |
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Related terms
hemorrhage
A large loss of blood from a blood vessel, inside the body or out of it.
gastrointestinal
Having to do with the stomach and intestines, or with the whole digestive tract from the mouth to the anus.
ulcer
An open sore where the skin or the lining of an organ has broken down.
Mallory-Weiss tear
A tear in the lining where the esophagus meets the stomach.