Melena (Noun)
Meaning
Abnormally dark tarry feces containing blood (usually from gastrointestinal bleeding).
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The patient's melena was a sign of a serious gastrointestinal bleed that required immediate medical attention.
- After a few days of taking the new medication, the patient began to experience melena and was advised to stop taking it.
- The doctor suspected that the melena was caused by a stomach ulcer and ordered an endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis.
- The presence of melena in the patient's stool was a clear indication of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
- The nurse was trained to recognize melena as a symptom of a potentially life-threatening condition and to report it to the doctor immediately.