A patient presents with melena and jaundice. What should you suspect?

The presence of melena, which refers to black, tarry stools, indicates upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to the breakdown of blood as it is digested. Jaundice, characterized by yellowing of the skin and eyes, suggests liver dysfunction or disease, as it often arises from an accumulation of bilirubin in the blood due to various potential causes, including liver failure, hemolysis, or bile duct obstruction. In this scenario, the combination of these symptoms strongly points towards a significant disturbance in the gastrointestinal system, particularly related to bleeding, possibly from conditions such as peptic ulcers, esophageal varices, or hepatic pathology. Therefore, a suspicion of gastrointestinal bleeding is warranted due to the clear connection between melena and potential bleeding from the upper GI tract alongside the liver-related issue indicated by jaundice.