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  1. <Medical Topics
    Gastroenterology
    Approach to the Gastrointestinal Patient
    • Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction
      • References
    • Evaluation of the Gastrointestinal Patient
      • History
      • Physical Examination
      • Testing
    Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Disorders
    • Overview of Gastrointestinal Symptoms
    • Chronic Abdominal Pain and Recurrent Abdominal Pain
      • General reference
      • Pathophysiology
      • Etiology
      • Evaluation
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Red flags
        • Interpretation of findings
        • Evaluation references
        • Testing
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
      • Key Points
      • More Information
    • Dyspepsia
      • Etiology
      • Evaluation
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Red flags
        • Interpretation of findings
        • Testing
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
      • Key Points
    • Hiccups
      • Etiology
      • Evaluation
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Red flags
        • Interpretation of findings
        • Testing
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
      • Key Points
    • Globus Sensation
      • Etiology
      • Evaluation
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Red flags
        • Interpretation of findings
        • Testing
      • Treatment
      • Key Points
    • Nausea and Vomiting
      • Complications
      • Etiology
        • Etiology reference
      • Evaluation
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Red flags
        • Interpretation of findings
        • Testing
      • Treatment
      • Key Points
    • Rumination
      • Etiology
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
    • Constipation
      • Etiology
      • Evaluation
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Red flags
        • Interpretation of findings
        • Testing
        • Evaluation references
      • Treatment
        • Diet and behavior
        • Types of laxatives
        • Fecal impaction
        • Treatment reference
      • Geriatrics Essentials
      • Key Points
      • More Information
      • Dyschezia
        • Etiology
        • Symptoms and Signs
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
      • More Information
    • Diarrhea
      • Complications of diarrhea
      • Etiology
        • Osmotic load
        • Increased secretions/decreased absorption
        • Reduced contact time/surface area
      • Evaluation
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Red flags
        • Interpretation of findings
        • Testing
        • Evaluation reference
      • Treatment
      • Key Points
      • More Information
    • Gas-Related Symptoms
      • Etiology
        • Excessive belching
        • Distention (bloating)
        • Excessive flatus
        • Etiology reference
      • Evaluation
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Red flags
        • Interpretation of findings
        • Testing
        • Evaluation reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
      • Key Points
    Diagnostic and Therapeutic Gastrointestinal Procedures
    • Ambulatory pH Monitoring
      • Catheter-Based pH Monitoring
      • Wireless pH Monitoring
        • References
    • Anoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy
    • Gastric Analysis
    • Nasogastric Intubation or Intestinal Intubation
    • Paracentesis
    • Impedance Planimetry
      • References
    • Endoscopy
      • General references
      • Diagnostic Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
        • Balloon-assisted enteroscopy
        • Screening colonoscopy
      • Therapeutic Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
      • Contraindications to Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
        • Contraindications references
      • Preparation for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
        • Preparation references
      • Video Capsule Endoscopy
        • Video capsule endoscopy reference
      • More Information
    • Laparoscopy
    • Manometry
      • Anorectal Manometry
        • Anorectal manometry reference
      • Barostat
      • Esophageal Manometry
      • Esophageal manometry references
      • Gastroduodenal Manometry
    • Nuclear Gastrointestinal Scans
      • Bleeding Scans
      • Gastric Emptying
        • Gastric emptying reference
      • Meckel Scans
    • Radiographs and Other Imaging Contrast Studies of the Gastrointestinal Tract
      • Radiographs and Contrast Studies of the Abdomen
        • Barium enema
        • Upper gastrointestinal examination
      • CT Scanning of the Abdomen
        • CT colonography
        • CT enterography and MR enterography
        • CT scanning of the abdomen references
    • Other Gastrointestinal Testing and Therapeutic Procedures
      • Breath tests
      • Wireless motility capsule
      • Neuromodulation/neurostimulation
      • References
    Acute Abdomen and Surgical Gastroenterology
    • Inguinal Hernia
      • Reference
      • Classification
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
      • Key Points
    • Acute Abdominal Pain
      • General reference
      • Pathophysiology
        • Peritonitis
      • Etiology
      • Evaluation
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Red flags
        • Interpretation of findings
        • Testing
        • Evaluation reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
      • Key Points
    • Acute Mesenteric Ischemia
      • Pathophysiology
      • Etiology
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
      • Prognosis
        • Prognosis reference
      • Key Points
    • Acute Perforation of the Gastrointestinal Tract
      • Etiology
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
      • Key Points
    • Appendicitis
      • General reference
      • Etiology
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Prognosis
        • Prognosis reference
      • Key Points
    • Hernias of the Abdominal Wall
      • General reference
      • Classification of Abdominal Hernias
        • Abdominal wall hernias
        • Sports hernias
        • Reference
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Prognosis
    • Ileus
      • Etiology
        • Etiology reference
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Key Points
    • Intestinal Obstruction
      • Reference
      • Etiology
      • Pathophysiology
        • Pathophysiology reference
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Specific measures
      • Key Points
    • Intra-Abdominal Abscesses
      • Etiology
      • Symptoms and Signs
        • Complications of intra-abdominal abscesses
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Prognosis
      • Key Points
    • Ischemic Colitis
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
    Anorectal Disorders
    • Solitary Rectal Ulcer Syndrome
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
    • Evaluation of Anorectal Disorders
      • History
      • Physical examination
    • Anal Fissure
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
    • Anorectal Abscess
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Treatment reference
      • Key Points
    • Anorectal Fistula
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Treatment reference
    • Fecal Incontinence
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
    • Hemorrhoids
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Symptomatic treatment
        • Office-based procedures
        • Surgical hemorrhoidectomy
        • Other procedures
      • Treatment reference
      • Key Points
    • Levator Syndrome
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Treatment references
    • Pilonidal Disease
      • Treatment
      • Treatment reference
    • Proctitis
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Treatment references
    • Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching)
      • Reference
      • Etiology
      • Evaluation
      • History
      • Physical examination
      • Red flags
      • Interpretation of findings
      • Testing
      • Treatment
        • General measures
      • Key Points
    • Rectal Prolapse and Procidentia
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Treatment reference
    Bezoars and Foreign Bodies
    • Esophageal Foreign Bodies
      • Complications
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Treatment references
      • Key Points
    • Gastric and Intestinal Foreign Bodies
      • General references
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Gastric foreign bodies
        • Intestinal foreign bodies
        • Drug packages
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
    • Rectal Foreign Bodies
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
    • Bezoars
      • Etiology
        • Etiology references
      • Symptoms and Signs
        • Complications
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
    • Overview of Foreign Bodies in the Gastrointestinal Tract
      • General reference
    Diverticular Disease
    • Meckel Diverticulum
      • Pathophysiology
        • Pathophysiology reference
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Key Points
    • Definition of Diverticular Disease
      • General reference
    • Colonic Diverticulosis
      • General reference
      • Etiology
      • Symptoms and Signs
        • Complications of diverticulosis
        • Diverticular bleeding
        • Symptoms and signs references
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • Treatment of diverticular bleeding
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
      • More Information
      • Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease (SUDD)
        • References
    • Colonic Diverticulitis
      • General references
      • Etiology
        • Etiology references
      • Classification
        • Classification references
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • Antibiotics
        • Percutaneous drainage or endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage
        • Surgery
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
      • More Information
      • Segmental Colitis Associated With Diverticulosis (SCAD)
        • Reference
        • Symptoms and Signs
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
    • Diverticular Disease of the Stomach and Small Bowel
      • Reference
      • Gastric Diverticula
        • Gastric diverticula reference
      • Duodenal Diverticula
        • Duodenal diverticula references
      • Jejunal Diverticula and Ileal Diverticula
        • Jejunal diverticula and ileal diverticula reference
      • Key Points
    Esophageal and Swallowing Disorders
    • Lower Esophageal Ring
      • References
    • Esophageal Web
      • Reference
    • Dysphagia Lusoria
      • References
    • Achalasia
      • General reference
      • Symptoms and Signs
        • Symptoms and signs references
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Prognosis
        • Prognosis references
      • Key Points
    • Eosinophilic Esophagitis
      • General references
      • Symptoms and Signs
        • Symptoms and signs reference
      • Diagnosis
      • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
    • Distal Esophageal Spasm
      • General reference
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
    • Overview of Esophageal and Swallowing Disorders
    • Dysphagia
      • Etiology
        • Oropharyngeal dysphagia
        • Esophageal dysphagia
      • Evaluation
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Red flags
        • Interpretation of findings
        • Testing
        • Evaluation reference
      • Treatment
      • Geriatrics Essentials
      • Key Points
    • Obstructive Disorders of the Esophagus
    • Esophageal Motility Disorders
    • Esophageal Diverticula
      • Symptoms and Signs
        • Symptoms and signs reference
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
    • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
      • General references
      • Etiology
        • Complications of GERD
        • Etiology reference
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
    • Hiatus (Hiatal) Hernia
      • Etiology
      • Pathophysiology
        • Pathophysiology references
      • Symptoms and Signs
        • Symptoms and signs reference
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
    • Infectious Esophageal Disorders
      • General references
      • Candida Esophagitis
        • Candida esophagitis references
      • Herpes Simplex Virus Esophagitis and Cytomegalovirus Esophagitis
        • HSV esophagitis and CMV esophagitis references
    • Mallory-Weiss Syndrome
      • General references
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
    • Esophageal Rupture
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
    Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer Disease
    • Erosive Gastritis
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Prevention
        • Prevention references
      • Key Points
    • Nonerosive Gastritis
      • Pathology
        • Superficial gastritis
        • Deep gastritis
        • Gastric atrophy
        • Metaplasia
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
    • Postgastrectomy Gastritis
    • Uncommon Gastritis Syndromes
      • Ménétrier Disease
      • Eosinophilic Gastritis
      • Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma
      • Gastritis Caused by Systemic Disorders
      • Gastritis Caused by Physical Agents
      • Infectious (Septic) Gastritis
    • Overview of Acid Secretion
    • Helicobacter pylori Infection
      • General reference
      • Pathophysiology
        • Pathophysiology references
      • Diagnosis
        • Noninvasive tests
        • Invasive tests
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
    • Overview of Gastritis
    • Autoimmune Metaplastic Atrophic Gastritis
      • Etiology
        • Etiology reference
      • Complications
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
    • Peptic Ulcer Disease
      • Etiology
        • Etiology references
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Complications
        • Hemorrhage
        • Penetration (confined perforation)
        • Free perforation
        • Gastric outlet obstruction
        • Recurrence
        • Stomach cancer
        • Complications references
      • Treatment
        • Adjuncts
        • Surgery
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
    • Medications for the Treatment of Gastric Acidity
      • Proton Pump Inhibitors
        • Proton pump inhibitor references
      • Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonists (H2 Blockers)
      • Antacids
      • Prostaglandins
      • Sucralfate
        • Sucralfate reference
      • Potassium-Competitive Acid Inhibitors
      • Potassium-competitive acid inhibitors references
    Gastroenteritis
    • Drug-Related Gastroenteritis and Chemical-Related Gastroenteritis
    • E. coli Gastroenteritis
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
      • More Information
    • Norovirus Gastroenteritis
      • General reference
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
    • Rotavirus Gastroenteritis
      • General references
      • Symptoms and Signs
        • Symptoms and signs reference
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Prevention
        • Prevention references
      • Key Points
    • Staphylococcal Food Poisoning
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
    • Overview of Gastroenteritis
      • General references
      • Etiology
        • Viral gastroenteritis
        • Bacterial gastroenteritis
        • Parasitic gastroenteritis
        • Etiology references
      • Symptoms and Signs
        • Viral gastroenteritis
        • Bacterial gastroenteritis
        • Parasitic gastroenteritis
        • Symptoms and signs reference
      • Diagnosis
        • Stool testing
        • General tests
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • Symptomatic treatment
        • Rehydration
        • Antimicrobials
        • Treatment references
      • Prevention
        • Prevention references
    • Traveler’s Diarrhea
      • Etiology
        • Etiology references
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
      • Prevention
        • Prevention reference
      • Key Points
      • More Information
    Gastrointestinal Bleeding
    • Overview of Gastrointestinal Bleeding
      • Etiology
      • Evaluation
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Red flags
        • Interpretation of findings
        • Testing
        • Evaluation references
      • Treatment
        • Airway
        • Fluid resuscitation and blood product transfusion
        • Medications
        • Hemostasis
        • Treatment references
      • Geriatrics Essentials
      • Key Points
    • Varices
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Prognosis
        • Prognosis references
      • Key Points
    • Vascular Gastrointestinal Lesions
      • References
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
    How To Do Gastrointestinal Procedures
    • How To Do Anoscopy
      • Indications
        • Indications references
      • Contraindications
      • Complications
      • Equipment
      • Additional Considerations
        • Additional considerations reference
      • Positioning
      • Relevant Anatomy
      • Step-by-Step Description of Procedure
        • Step-by-step description reference
      • Aftercare
      • Warnings and Common Errors
      • Tips and Tricks
    • How To Insert a Nasogastric Tube
      • Indications
      • Contraindications
        • Contraindications reference
      • Complications
      • Equipment
      • Additional Considerations
      • Positioning
      • Relevant Anatomy
      • Step-by-Step Description of Procedure
      • Aftercare
      • Warnings and Common Errors
      • Tips and Tricks
    • How To Do Paracentesis
      • Indications
        • Indications reference
      • Contraindications
      • Complications
      • Equipment
      • Additional Considerations
      • Positioning
      • Relevant Anatomy
      • Step-by-Step Description of Procedure
        • Step-by-step description references
      • Aftercare
      • Warnings and Common Errors
      • Tips and Tricks
    Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
    • Medications for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
      • 5-Aminosalicylic Acid (5-ASA, Mesalamine)
        • 5-aminosalicylic acid references
      • Glucocorticoids
        • Glucocorticoids references
      • Immunomodulating Medications
        • Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine
        • Methotrexate
        • Cyclosporine and tacrolimus
        • Immunomodulating medications references
      • Biologic Agents
        • Anti-TNF medications
        • Other biologic agents
        • Biologic agents references
      • Small Molecules
        • Small molecules references
      • Antibiotics and Probiotics
        • Antibiotics
        • Probiotics
        • Antibiotics and probiotics references
    • Overview of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
      • General references
      • Epidemiology
      • Epidemiology references
      • Extraintestinal Manifestations
        • Extraintestinal manifestations references
      • Treatment
        • Supportive care
        • Treatment reference
      • Health Maintenance
        • Immunizations
        • Screening tests
        • Health maintenance references
    • Crohn Disease
      • Pathophysiology
        • Classification
        • Complications
        • Pathophysiology references
      • Symptoms and Signs
        • Symptoms and signs references
      • Diagnosis
        • Laboratory testing
        • Assessing disease severity
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • General management
        • Mild disease
        • Moderate to severe disease
        • Fulminant disease or abscess
        • Fistulas
        • Monitoring response to therapy
        • Surgery
        • Treatment references
      • Prognosis
        • Prognosis references
      • Key Points
    • Ulcerative Colitis
      • Pathophysiology
        • Toxic colitis
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Initial evaluation and differential diagnosis
        • Assessing disease severity
        • Recurrent symptoms
        • Acute severe attacks
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • General management
        • Mild left-sided disease
        • Moderate or extensive disease
        • Severe disease
        • Fulminant colitis
        • Maintenance therapy
        • Surgery
        • Treatment references
      • Prognosis
        • Colon cancer
        • Prognosis references
      • Key Points
    Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
      • Etiology
        • Physiologic factors
        • Psychosocial factors
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Red flags
        • Differential diagnosis
        • History
        • Physical examination
        • Testing
        • Intercurrent disease
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Diet
        • Medications
        • Psychological therapies
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
      • More Information
    Malabsorption Syndromes
    • Overview of Malabsorption
      • Pathophysiology
        • Digestion of fats
        • Digestion of carbohydrates
        • Digestion of proteins
      • Etiology
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Confirming malabsorption
        • Diagnosing the cause of malabsorption
    • Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
      • Etiology
      • Pathophysiology
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
    • Carbohydrate Intolerance
      • Pathophysiology
      • Etiology
        • Etiology references
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
      • Key Points
    • Celiac Disease
      • Reference
      • Etiology
      • Epidemiology
        • Epidemiology references
      • Symptoms and Signs
        • Symptoms and signs reference
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
      • Prognosis
        • Prognosis reference
      • Key Points
    • Intestinal Lymphangiectasia
      • Reference
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
    • Short Bowel Syndrome
      • Reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
    • Tropical Sprue
      • Etiology
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Diagnosis reference
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
    • Whipple Disease
      • References
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
        • Treatment reference
      • Key Points
    Pancreatitis
    • Overview of Pancreatitis
    • Acute Pancreatitis
      • Etiology
        • Gallstones
        • Alcohol
        • Other causes
        • Etiology references
      • Pathogenesis
      • Classification
        • Types of pancreatitis
        • Severity of pancreatitis
        • Classification reference
      • Complications
        • Complications references
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Laboratory tests
        • Imaging studies
      • Treatment
        • Severe acute pancreatitis and complications
        • Treatment reference
      • Prognosis
        • Prognosis reference
      • Key Points
      • More Information
    • Chronic Pancreatitis
      • Pathogenesis
        • Pathogenesis reference
      • Etiology
        • Etiology reference
      • Complications
      • Symptoms and Signs
      • Diagnosis
        • Imaging studies
        • Pancreatic function tests
        • Diagnosis references
      • Treatment
        • Pain control
        • Pancreatic enzyme replacement
        • Management of diabetes
        • Treatment references
      • Key Points
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