Today, upper gastrointestinal bleeding is considered to be bleeding which originates anywhere from the mouth to the ampulla of Vater, middle gastrointestinal bleeding is considered to be bleeding from the ampulla of Vater to the ileocecal valve, and lower gastrointestinal bleeding is considered to be bleeding located in the colon.
Hoy en día se considera sangrado digestivo superior a aquel que se origina desde la boca hasta la ampolla de Vater, medio cuando proviene desde la ampolla de Vater hasta la válvula ileocecal, e inferior cuando se localiza en el colon.