Condition Lookup
Category:
Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Number of Conditions: 8
Cholecystitis
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Sub-category: Acute Abdominal Pain
Symptoms:
right upper quadrant abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; fever; pain radiating to the shoulder or back; tenderness in the right upper quadrant
Root Cause:
Inflammation of the gallbladder, usually due to obstruction of the cystic duct by gallstones.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, abdominal ultrasound, HIDA scan, and elevated inflammatory markers (WBC, CRP).
Treatment:
Fasting (NPO), intravenous fluids, pain control, antibiotics, and cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder).
Medications:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics such as piperacillin-tazobactam (penicillin class) or ceftriaxone with metronidazole are commonly prescribed. NSAIDs or opioids for pain management.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects about 10-15% of the adult population, with acute cholecystitis being a complication in a smaller proportion.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female gender, obesity, pregnancy, age over 40, rapid weight loss, high-fat diet.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with prompt treatment; untreated cases can lead to severe complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Gallbladder rupture, peritonitis, sepsis, emphysematous cholecystitis.
Pancreatitis
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Sub-category: Acute Abdominal Pain
Symptoms:
severe upper abdominal pain; pain radiating to the back; nausea; vomiting; fever; abdominal tenderness; jaundice in some cases
Root Cause:
Inflammation of the pancreas due to gallstones, alcohol use, or other factors like hypertriglyceridemia or trauma.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical assessment, elevated serum amylase and lipase levels, abdominal ultrasound, or CT scan.
Treatment:
Supportive care with fasting (NPO), IV fluids, pain control, and treating the underlying cause (e.g., gallstone removal). Severe cases may require intensive care or surgical intervention.
Medications:
Analgesics such as morphine (opioid) or NSAIDs for pain; antibiotics only in cases of infected pancreatic necrosis.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
About 50 cases per 100,000 annually in developed countries.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Alcohol abuse, gallstones, high triglycerides, smoking, certain medications.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies; mild cases resolve in days, while severe cases can lead to multi-organ failure.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pancreatic necrosis, pseudocysts, infection, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).
Perforated Viscus
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Sub-category: Acute Abdominal Pain
Symptoms:
sudden severe abdominal pain; rigid abdomen; fever; nausea; vomiting; hypotension; tachycardia
Root Cause:
Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to leakage of contents into the abdominal cavity and peritonitis. Common causes include peptic ulcers, diverticulitis, or trauma.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, X-ray or CT showing free air under the diaphragm (pneumoperitoneum), and blood tests for infection markers.
Treatment:
Emergency surgery to repair the perforation, IV antibiotics, and supportive care.
Medications:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics like ceftriaxone with metronidazole or piperacillin-tazobactam to manage peritonitis. Pain relief with opioids.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare but life-threatening, particularly in patients with peptic ulcers or diverticulitis.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
NSAID use, corticosteroids, smoking, alcohol use, peptic ulcer disease, trauma.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Depends on timely intervention; high mortality without treatment.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Sepsis, multi-organ failure, death.
Upper GI Bleed (e.g., Variceal Bleed, Peptic Ulcer)
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Sub-category: Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Symptoms:
hematemesis (vomiting blood); melena (black, tarry stools); abdominal pain; lightheadedness; pallor; fatigue; shock in severe cases
Root Cause:
Bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract, often due to peptic ulcers, varices, or tears in the esophageal lining (Mallory-Weiss tears).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Endoscopy (gold standard), blood tests (CBC, coagulation profile), nasogastric lavage, imaging (if needed).
Treatment:
Resuscitation with fluids/blood products, endoscopic interventions (e.g., banding, sclerotherapy), pharmacologic therapy to reduce bleeding, and surgical interventions in refractory cases.
Medications:
Proton pump inhibitors (e.g., pantoprazole ) to reduce stomach acid; octreotide or vasopressin for variceal bleeding; antibiotics (e.g., ceftriaxone ) in variceal bleeding to prevent infections; hemostatic agents such as tranexamic acid (if indicated).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 50-150 cases per 100,000 people annually; more common in older adults.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Helicobacter pylori infection, NSAID use, alcohol abuse, liver cirrhosis, anticoagulant or antiplatelet use, smoking.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies depending on the cause and severity; high success rate with early intervention but increased mortality in severe cases or with comorbidities.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypovolemic shock, rebleeding, aspiration, multiorgan failure, death.
Lower GI Bleed (e.g., Diverticular Bleeding)
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Sub-category: Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Symptoms:
hematochezia (bright red or maroon-colored blood in stool); lightheadedness; abdominal discomfort; fatigue; shock in severe cases
Root Cause:
Bleeding originating from the lower gastrointestinal tract, commonly due to diverticulosis, angiodysplasia, or colorectal cancer.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Colonoscopy (gold standard), blood tests (CBC, coagulation profile), imaging (e.g., CT angiography), tagged red blood cell scan.
Treatment:
Resuscitation with fluids/blood products, endoscopic or angiographic interventions (e.g., cauterization or embolization), surgical intervention for refractory cases.
Medications:
Hemostatic agents (e.g., tranexamic acid) for active bleeding; iron supplements for anemia post-resolution; prophylactic antibiotics in suspected infections.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Incidence ranges from 20-30 cases per 100,000 annually, increasing with age.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Advanced age, chronic constipation, NSAID or anticoagulant use, history of diverticulosis or angiodysplasia, smoking.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good prognosis with appropriate management; recurrence is common in diverticular bleeding.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypovolemic shock, recurrent bleeding, anemia, death in severe untreated cases.
Hernias (Incarcerated, Strangulated)
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Sub-category: Other GI Conditions
Symptoms:
localized pain or tenderness at the hernia site; nausea; vomiting; abdominal distension; redness or discoloration over the hernia; inability to pass stool or gas
Root Cause:
A portion of an organ, typically the intestine, becomes trapped in the hernia sac, compromising blood flow (strangulated) or causing obstruction without blood flow compromise (incarcerated).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, imaging studies such as ultrasound or CT scan, and observation of symptoms like persistent pain and obstruction signs.
Treatment:
Emergent surgical intervention to release the trapped organ and repair the hernia; in severe cases, resection of necrotic tissue may be required.
Medications:
Pain management with opioids or NSAIDs, and prophylactic antibiotics like cefazolin (a first-generation cephalosporin) to reduce infection risk.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Incarcerated hernias are relatively common, with about 10-15% of hernias progressing to incarceration; strangulated hernias occur in approximately 1-3% of cases.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Older age, male gender, obesity, chronic coughing or straining, history of previous hernias, heavy lifting.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with timely surgical intervention; delayed treatment can lead to bowel necrosis, sepsis, and increased mortality.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Bowel obstruction, ischemia, necrosis, perforation, and sepsis.
Mesenteric Ischemia
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Sub-category: Vascular GI Conditions
Symptoms:
sudden severe abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; blood in stool; abdominal distension
Root Cause:
Reduced or completely obstructed blood flow to the intestines due to arterial embolism, arterial thrombosis, or venous thrombosis.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history and physical exam, blood tests (elevated lactate levels), imaging studies (CT angiography is the gold standard).
Treatment:
Immediate resuscitation, anticoagulation (e.g., heparin), thrombolysis, and surgical intervention to remove occlusion or resect necrotic bowel.
Medications:
Anticoagulants like heparin (unfractionated or low-molecular-weight), thrombolytics like alteplase (tissue plasminogen activator), and vasodilators like papaverine (to improve blood flow).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare but life-threatening, affecting approximately 0.1-0.2% of hospital admissions; more common in elderly individuals.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Atrial fibrillation, heart failure, atherosclerosis, recent abdominal surgery, hypercoagulable states.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Poor if not treated promptly; mortality rates can exceed 70% for acute cases with bowel necrosis.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Bowel infarction, perforation, sepsis, multi-organ failure.
Severe Gastroenteritis
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Sub-category: Infectious GI Conditions
Symptoms:
profuse diarrhea; vomiting; severe dehydration; abdominal cramping; fever; bloody stools (in some cases)
Root Cause:
Inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, leading to fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, stool tests (for pathogens), blood tests (to assess dehydration and electrolyte levels).
Treatment:
Rehydration with intravenous fluids, electrolyte replacement, and antimicrobial therapy if indicated.
Medications:
Oral rehydration salts (ORS), IV fluids (crystalloids like normal saline), antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin or azithromycin (for bacterial infections), and antiemetics like ondansetron .
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
A leading cause of morbidity globally, with higher prevalence in developing countries; severe cases are less common but can be life-threatening, especially in children and the elderly.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poor sanitation, contaminated food or water, travel to endemic regions, immunosuppression.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with adequate hydration and timely treatment; delayed or inadequate treatment can lead to severe complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, kidney failure, sepsis, death in extreme cases.