Diagnostic Tests for Digestive Diseases
Digestive Diseases Tests: Book Excerpts
Home Diagnostic Testing
These home medical tests may be relevant to Digestive Diseases:
- Colon & Rectal Cancer: Home Testing
- Food Allergies & Intolerances: Home Testing:
- Digestive-Related Home Testing:
Digestive Diseases Diagnosis: Book Excerpts
Diagnostic Tests for Digestive Diseases: Online Medical Books
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NAUSEA AND VOMITING:
DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
(Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
The basic workup includes a CBC, sedimentation rate, urinalysis, urine drug screen, chemistry panel and electrolytes, serum amylase, arterial blood gases, stools for occult blood, chest x-ray, EKG, and flat plate of the abdomen. Acute onset of nausea and vomiting with ataxia requires an immediate CT scan of the brain to rule out a cerebellar hemorrhage. A pregnancy test should be routine in women of child-bearing age. If there is fever, febrile agglutinins and a heterophile antibody titer should be done. If there is an abdominal mass, a gallbladder ultrasound and intravenous pyelogram may need to be done. Isotope scanning with iminodiacetic acid derivatives is extremely useful to detect acute cholecystitis. If there is chronic vomiting and abdominal pain, the diagnosis can often be made with an upper GI series, small bowel series, or barium enema.
When there is persistent vomiting with abdominal pain, an exploratory laparotomy may need to be considered. The presence of an abdominal mass or suspected pancreatic or biliary disease merits consideration of a CT scan. However, before ordering expensive diagnostic tests, a general surgeon or gastroenterologist ought to be consulted. Laparoscopy, gastroscopy, esophagoscopy, duodenoscopy, and colonoscopy all need to be considered in the workup. Gastroparesis and intestinal pseudo-obstruction can be ruled out by radioisotope studies and manometry of the stomach and small intestine. Angiography is useful to diagnose mesenteric artery ischemia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, 2003
Bowel sounds, hyperactive:
History and physical examination
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
If you've ruled out life-threatening conditions, obtain a detailed medical and surgical history. Ask the patient if he has had a hernia or abdominal surgery because these may cause mechanical intestinal obstruction. Does he have a history of inflammatory bowel disease? Also, ask about recent eruptions of gastroenteritis among family members, friends, or coworkers. If the patient has traveled recently, even within the United States, was he aware of any endemic illnesses?
In addition, determine whether stress may have contributed to the patient's problem. Ask about food allergies and recent ingestion of unusual foods or fluids. Check for fever, which suggests infection. Having already auscultated, now gently inspect, percuss, and palpate the abdomen.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006
Bowel sounds, hypoactive:
History and physical examination
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
After detecting hypoactive bowel sounds, look for related symptoms. Ask the patient about the location, onset, duration, frequency, and severity of any pain. Cramping or colicky abdominal pain usually indicates a mechanical bowel obstruction, whereas diffuse abdominal pain usually indicates intestinal distention related to paralytic ileus.
Ask the patient about any recent vomiting. When did it begin? How often does it occur? Does the vomitus look bloody? Also, ask about changes in bowel habits. Does he have a history of constipation? When was the last time he had a bowel movement or expelled gas?
Obtain a detailed medical and surgical history of conditions that may cause mechanical bowel obstruction, such as an abdominal tumor or hernia. Does the patient have a history of severe pain; trauma; conditions that can cause paralytic ileus, such as pancreatitis; bowel inflammation or gynecologic infection, which may produce peritonitis; or toxic conditions such as uremia? Has he recently had radiation therapy or abdominal surgery or ingested a drug, such as an opiate, which can decrease peristalsis and cause hypoactive bowel sounds?
After the history is complete, perform a careful physical examination. Inspect the abdomen for distention, noting surgical incisions and obvious masses. Gently percuss and palpate the abdomen for masses, gas, fluid, tenderness, and rigidity. Measure abdominal girth to detect any subsequent increase in distention. Also check for poor skin turgor, hypotension, narrowed pulse pressure, and other signs of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which may result from paralytic ileus.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006
Vomiting:
History and physical examination
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
Ask your patient to describe the onset, duration, and intensity of his vomiting. What started the vomiting? What makes it subside? If possible, collect, measure, and inspect the character of the vomitus. (See Vomitus: Characteristics and causes.) Explore any associated complaints, particularly nausea, abdominal pain, anorexia and weight loss, changes in bowel habits or stools, excessive belching or flatus, and bloating or fullness.
Obtain a medical history, noting GI, endocrine, and metabolic disorders; recent infections; and cancer, including chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Ask about current medication use and alcohol consumption. If the patient is a female of childbearing age, ask if she is or could be pregnant. Ask which contraceptive method she’s using.
Inspect the abdomen for distention, and auscultate for bowel sounds and bruits. Palpate for rigidity and tenderness, and test for rebound tenderness. Next, palpate and percuss the liver for enlargement. Assess other body systems as appropriate.
During the examination, keep in mind that projectile vomiting unaccompanied by nausea may indicate increased intracranial pressure, a life-threatening emergency. If this occurs in a patient with CNS injury, you should quickly check his vital signs. Be alert for widened pulse pressure or bradycardia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006
Bowel sounds, hyperactive:
History and physical examination
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
If you’ve ruled out life-threatening conditions, obtain a detailed medical and surgical history. Ask the patient if he has had a hernia or abdominal surgery because these may cause mechanical intestinal obstruction. Does he have a history of inflammatory bowel disease? Also, ask about recent episodes of gastroenteritis among family members, friends, or coworkers. If the patient has traveled recently, even within the United States, was he aware of any endemic illnesses?
In addition, determine whether stress may have contributed to the patient’s problem. Ask about food allergies and recent ingestion of unusual foods or fluids. Check for fever, which suggests infection. Having already auscultated, now gently inspect, percuss, and palpate the abdomen.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Bowel sounds, hypoactive:
History and physical examination
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
After detecting hypoactive bowel sounds, look for related symptoms. Ask the patient about the location, onset, duration, frequency, and severity of any pain. Cramping or colicky abdominal pain usually indicates a mechanical bowel obstruction, whereas diffuse abdominal pain usually indicates intestinal distention related to paralytic ileus.
Ask the patient about any recent vomiting: When did it begin? How often does it occur? Does the vomitus look bloody? Also, ask about any changes in bowel habits: Does he have a history of constipation? When was the last time he had a bowel movement or expelled gas?
Obtain a detailed medical and surgical history of any conditions that may cause mechanical bowel obstruction, such as an abdominal tumor or hernia. Does the patient have a history of severe pain; trauma; conditions that can cause paralytic ileus such as pancreatitis; bowel inflammation or gynecologic infection, which may produce peritonitis; or toxic conditions such as uremia? Has he recently had radiation therapy or abdominal surgery, or ingested a drug such as an opiate, which can decrease peristalsis and cause hypoactive bowel sounds?
After the history is complete, perform a careful physical examination. Inspect the abdomen for distention, noting surgical incisions and obvious masses. Gently percuss and palpate the abdomen for masses, gas, fluid, tenderness, and rigidity. Measure abdominal girth to detect any subsequent increase in distention. Also check for poor skin turgor, hypotension, narrowed pulse pressure, and other signs of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which may result from paralytic ileus.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Vomiting:
History and physical examination
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Ask your patient to describe the onset, duration, and intensity of his vomiting. What started it? What makes it subside? If possible, collect, measure, and inspect the character of the vomitus. (See Vomitus: Characteristics and causes.) Explore any associated complaints, particularly nausea, abdominal pain, anorexia and weight loss, changes in bowel elimination patterns or the appearance of stools, excessive belching or flatus, and bloating or fullness.
Obtain a medical history, noting GI, endocrine, and metabolic disorders; recent infections; and cancer, including chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Ask about current medication use and alcohol consumption. If the patient is a female of childbearing age, ask if she is or could be pregnant and which contraceptive method she uses.
Inspect the abdomen for distention, and auscultate for bowel sounds and bruits. Palpate for rigidity and tenderness, and test for rebound tenderness. Next, palpate and percuss the liver for enlargement. Assess other body systems as appropriate.
During the examination, keep in mind that projectile vomiting unaccompanied by nausea may indicate increased intracranial pressure, a life-threatening emergency. If this occurs in a patient with a CNS injury, quickly check his vital signs. Be alert for widened pulse pressure or bradycardia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Nausea and Vomiting:
Physical examination.
(The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter)
A directed physical examination is dictated by the findings on history, but the following are areas of key importance:
A. Vital signs. Focus on presence of fever, pulse, and blood pressure to assess hydration, and respiratory rate to look for acidosis-related hyperventilation.
B. Skin, eyes, mucous membranes. Look for dehydration and signs of jaundice.
C. Signs of systemic infection. Pay special attention to examining the lung and the costovertebral angle for tenderness.
D. A detailed abdominal examination should include inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion, areas of tenderness, rebound, guarding, hepatomegaly, Murphy’s sign, stool for occult blood, and bimanual pelvic examination.
Testing.
Most cases of nausea and vomiting seen in a generalist’s office will not require laboratory testing. If the diagnosis is still unclear after history and physical examination, the laboratory workup can be classified into primary, secondary, and tertiary on the basis of their utility and ability to detect disease with an urgent need for diagnosis.
A. Primary tests include electrolytes, glucose, renal and liver function tests, amylase, urinalysis, stool for white blood cells, pregnancy test, and plain films of the abdomen or abdominal ultrasound if pain is a prominent feature of the presentation.
B. Secondary tests include abdominal ultrasound if not already done, upper GI series or upper endoscopy, stool culture, thyroid-stimulating hormone, electrocardiogram, and chest x-ray study.
C. Tertiary tests include lower endoscopy, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging studies, urine toxicology, urine porphyrins, and, in many instances, specialty consultation.
Diagnostic assessment
The diagnostic assessment of nausea and vomiting will benefit from a structured approach that includes the following:
A. A differential diagnosis based on age and reproductive status.
B. Attention to GI versus systemic causes of nausea and vomiting.
C. Special attention to the potentially more urgent nature of cases of nausea and vomiting that are often accompanied by abdominal pain (Chapter 9.1).
References
1. Avner JR. Vomiting. In: Schwartz MW, ed. Pediatric primary care—a problem oriented approach, 3rd ed. Chicago: Yearbook Medical Publishers, 1997:397–406.
2. Sorgel KH, Greenberger NJ. Nausea and vomiting in the diabetic patient. Hosp Pract (Off Ed) 1998;33:14–16.
3. Bouchier IAD. Nausea, vomiting. In: Bouchier IAD, Ellis H, Flemming P, eds. Index of differential diagnosis, 13th ed. Oxford: Butterworth Heinman Publishers, 1996:
446,710–713.
4. Brzana RJ, Koch KL. Gastroesophageal reflux disease presenting with intractable nausea. Ann Intern Med 1997;126:704–707.
5. Withers GD, Silburn SR, Forbes DA. Precipitants and aetiology of cyclic vomiting syndrome. Acta Pediatr 1998;87:272–277.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter, 2000
Nausea/Vomiting:
Diagnostic Approach
(Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)
Neurological vomiting may be projectile (forceful emesis without prior nausea), positional, or associated with other neurological signs. Central vomiting (chemoreceptor trigger zone stimulation, usually caused by toxins) is alleviated by antidopaminergic medications, which do not work well when treating nausea due to mechanical causes such as obstruction.
Early morning nausea suggests pregnancy or metabolic causes (e.g., uremia). Vomiting of a large amount of undigested food 4 to 6 hours after eating is consistent with gastric retention resulting from pyloric obstruction
or gastroparesis or to esophageal disorders such as achalasia or Zencker diverticulum. Feculent vomiting suggests intestinal obstruction or gastrocolic fistula.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis, 2007
Bowel sounds, hyperactive:
Physical assessment
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Begin your examination by taking your patient’s vital signs. Check for fever, which suggests infection. Having already auscultated, now gently inspect, percuss, and palpate the abdomen.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Bowel sounds, hypoactive:
Physical assessment
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
After the history is complete, perform a careful physical examination. Inspect the abdomen for distention, noting surgical incisions and obvious masses. Gently percuss and palpate the abdomen for masses, gas, fluid, tenderness, and rigidity. Measure abdominal girth to detect any subsequent increase in distention. Also check for poor skin turgor, hypotension, narrowed pulse pressure, and other signs of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which may result from paralytic ileus.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Vomiting:
Physical assessment
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Inspect the abdomen for distention, and auscultate for bowel sounds and bruits. Palpate for rigidity and tenderness, and test for rebound tenderness. Next, palpate and percuss the liver for enlargement. Assess other body systems as appropriate.
During the assessment, keep in mind that projectile vomiting unaccompanied by nausea may indicate increased intracranial pressure (ICP), a life-threatening emergency. If this occurs in a patient with CNS injury, you should quickly check his vital signs. Be alert for widened pulse pressure or bradycardia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Regurgitation and Vomiting:
Diagnostic Approach: Regurgitation
(The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics)
In infantwith regurgitation who is otherwise well and gaining weight, mostlikely diagnosis is normal variation or mild gastroesophageal reflux.Persistent regurgitation with poorweight gain, respiratory symptoms, or symptoms suggesting esophagitisrequires investigation.Upper GI radiographic series excludesother causes of esophageal obstruction. Most reliable test for gastroesophagealreflux is esophageal pH monitoring. Endoscopy with biopsy can confirmdiagnosis of esophagitis.Other investigations depend on history,physical exam, and results of the above studies.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics, 2006
Bowel sounds, hyperactive:
History and physical examination
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
If you've ruled out life-threatening conditions, obtain a detailed medical and surgical history. Ask the patient if he has had a hernia or abdominal surgery because these may cause mechanical intestinal obstruction. Does he have a history of inflammatory bowel disease? Ask about recent eruptions of gastroenteritis among family members, friends, or coworkers. If the patient has traveled recently, even within the United States, was he aware of any endemic illnesses?
In addition, determine whether stress may have contributed to the patient's problem. Ask about food allergies and recent ingestion of unusual foods or fluids. Check for fever, which suggests infection. Having already auscultated, now gently inspect, percuss, and palpate the abdomen.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
Bowel sounds, hypoactive:
History and physical examination
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
After detecting hypoactive bowel sounds, look for related symptoms. Ask the patient about the location, onset, duration, frequency, and severity of any pain. Cramping or colicky abdominal pain usually indicates a mechanical bowel obstruction, whereas diffuse abdominal pain usually indicates intestinal distention related to paralytic ileus.
Ask the patient about any recent vomiting. When did it begin? How often does it occur? Does the vomitus look bloody? Ask about changes in bowel habits. Does he have a history of constipation? When was the last time he had a bowel movement or expelled gas?
Obtain a detailed medical and surgical history of conditions that may cause mechanical bowel obstruction, such as an abdominal tumor or hernia. Does the patient have a history of severe pain; trauma; conditions that can cause paralytic ileus, such as pancreatitis; bowel inflammation or gynecologic infection, which may produce peritonitis; or toxic conditions such as uremia? Has he recently had radiation therapy or abdominal surgery or ingested a drug, such as an opiate, which can decrease peristalsis and cause hypoactive bowel sounds?
After the history is complete, perform a physical examination. Inspect the abdomen for distention, noting surgical incisions and obvious masses. Gently percuss and palpate the abdomen for masses, gas, fluid, tenderness, and rigidity. Measure abdominal girth to detect any subsequent increase in distention. Check for poor skin turgor, hypotension, narrowed pulse pressure, and other signs of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which may result from paralytic ileus.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
Vomiting:
History and physical examination
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
Ask your patient to describe the onset, duration, and intensity of his vomiting. What started the vomiting? What makes it subside? If possible, collect, measure, and inspect the character of the vomitus. (See Vomitus: Characteristics and causes.) Explore associated complaints, particularly nausea, abdominal pain, anorexia and weight loss, changes in bowel habits or stools, excessive belching or flatus, and bloating or fullness.
Obtain a medical history, noting GI, endocrine, and metabolic disorders; recent infections; and cancer, including chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Ask the patient about current medication use and alcohol consumption. If the patient is a female of childbearing age, ask if she is or could be pregnant or which contraceptive method she's using.
Inspect the patient's abdomen for distention and localized bulging, and auscultate for bowel sounds and bruits. Palpate for rigidity and tenderness and test for rebound tenderness. Palpate and percuss the liver for enlargement. Assess the patient's other body systems as appropriate.
During the examination, keep in mind that projectile vomiting unaccompanied by nausea may be an indication of increased intracranial pressure, a life-threatening emergency. If this occurs in a patient with CNS injury, you should quickly check his vital signs. Be alert for widened pulse pressure or bradycardia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
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