Abdominal Pain: General DEFINITION: No clear definitions of acute vs. chronic abdominal pain Pain less than a few days that has worsened progressively until time of presentation is ‘acute’ Characterized…

Potpourri GASTRIC PHYSIOLOGY (ACID SECRETION) Gastric juice is a combination of parietal (acid) and non-parietal secretions Parietal cell, located in fundus, secrete gastric acid (HCL) and intrinsic factor (IF) Stimulant…

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (Gastrinoma) DEFINITION: A syndrome characterized by ulceration of the upper jejunum, hypersecretion of gastric acid, and nonbeta islet cell tumors of the pancreas Unlike typical peptic ulcer disease,…

Schatzki’s Ring/esophageal Spasm (Gastroenterology 1999;117:229-32 & 233-54) SCHATZKI’S RING Definition: Three types of rings: A: muscular in origin, occurs about 2 cm proximal to GEJ B (Schatzki’s): mucosal in origin,…

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD): H. Pylori, Nsaids (Lancet 2002;360:933-41. N Engl J Med 2002;347:1175-86. Am J Gastroenterol 1998;93:2037-46 & 2330-38) DEFINITION: Ulcer: Mucosal break of the stomach or duodenum that…

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) Tubes (Am J Gastroenterol 2003;98:272-7. Endoscopy 1998;30:781-89. Gastroenterology 1995;108:1282-1301) INDICATIONS: In general, patients should have a functional GI tract and anticipated life expectancy >30 days Malnutrition/poor…

Non-Cardiac Chest Pain (Neurogastroenterol Motil 2006;18:408-17) DEFINITION: Chest pains of non-cardiac origin Initial approach is to exclude coronary artery disease (CAD); Cardiac causes other than CAD: Mitral valve prolapse See…

Nausea & Vomiting (Gastroenterology. 2001;120:261-62 & 263-86) DEFINITION: Vomiting: forceful expulsion of gastric contents associated with contraction of abdominal and chest wall musculature Nausea: unpleasant sensation of the imminent need…

Injury (Esophagus): Pill Induced DEFINITION: Injury of the esophagus caused by a any of a number of pills/medications EPIDEMIOLOGY: Anyone who can ingest caustic pills is susceptible to pill-induced injury…