A 72-Year-Old Man Develops Mild Abdominal Pain and Bloody Diarrhea

A 72-year-old man develops mild abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea after undergoing urgent cholecystectomy.  The surgery was complicated by an episode of hypotension that was treated with bolus intravenous crystalloid fluids.  The patient had no previous gastrointestinal bleeding.  His last colonoscopy 10 years ago was normal.  Past medical history is notable for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and a myocardial infarction 7 years ago.  The patient smoked for 40 years and quit after the myocardial infarction.  Colonoscopy would most likely show pathology in which of the following portions of the large bowel?

A) Ascending colon
B) Cecum
C) Hepatic flexure
D) Rectosigmoid junction
E) Mid-transverse colon

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