Potpourri IBD PEARLS Outpatient: Always confirm the diagnosis: how was IBD diagnosed, particular bowel location involved (colon vs. small bowel), response to any prior therapy, medication use (NSAIDs), tobacco use,…

Ulcerative Colitis (Am J Gastroenterol. 2004;99:1371-1385.; Gastroenterology. 2004;126:1582-1592.; N Engl J Med. 2002; 347:417-429) DEFINITION: Idiopathic inflammation of the colonic mucosa (as opposed to Crohn’s which is transmural and any…

Microscopic & Radiation Colitis MICROSCOPIC COLITIS (Am J Gastroenterol 2004, 94:451-65) Definition: Idiopathic colitides with mild inflammatory changes diagnosed only by colorectal biopsy and thus only microscopically Microscopic colitis is…

Crohn’s Disease (Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003;18:263-77. Am J Gastroenterol. 2001;96:635-43. N Engl J Med 2002; 347:417-29) DEFINITION: Idiopathic or nonspecific transmural inflammation of the any segment of the GI tract…

Potpourri FECAL FAT Best screening test: Qualitative with Sudan stain is really only valuable as a screening test for those patients excreting >20 g/day Best quantitative test: 72 hr stool…

Whipple’s Disease (N Engl J Med 2007;356:55-66) DEFINITION: An extremely rare infectious illness that causes an intestinal malabsorption process Can have numerous other potential manifestations including rheumatological, cardiopulmonary, and neurological…

Small Bowel Tumors DEFINITION: Tumors of the small bowel; Fortunately primary neoplasia of the small bowel is rare EPIDEMIOLOGY: Small bowel comprises >75% of the length and >90% of the…

Short Bowel Syndrome (Gut 2006;55:1-12. Gastroenterology 2003;124:1105-10 & 1111-34) DEFINITION: A malabsorptive state that often follows massive resection of the small intestine The definition is a functional one: the extent…

Nutrition: Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) & Refeeding Syndrome (Gastroenterology 2001;121:966-69 & 970-1001) GENERAL NUTRITION QUESTIONS/ANSWERS: Ask yourself: How long has the patient been without nutrition? How malnourished is the patient?…