Hematemesis or
haematemesis is the
vomiting of
blood. The source is generally the upper
gastrointestinal tract, typically above the
suspensory muscle of duodenum. Patients can easily confuse it with
hemoptysis (coughing up blood), although the latter is more common. Hematemesis "is always an important sign". Vomited blood volumes in excess of 5.5 litres could be life-threatening.