Gastrointestinal (GI) Emergencies

Home » Gastrointestinal (GI) Emergencies » Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Gastrointestinal (GI) emergencies require prompt diagnosis. The first steps involved in diagnosis usually include taking a patient history and a history of symptoms, and performing a complete physical examination.

A patient history includes information about past and current illnesses, medical conditions (e.g., allergies), and medications, and often includes a family history. A history of symptoms includes information about the onset of symptoms, the severity of symptoms, and the circumstances surrounding symptom onset.

During physical examination, the patient's vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature) and level of consciousness (i.e., neurological status) are evaluated. The physician looks for signs of GI emergency, such as abdominal tenderness and swelling, low blood pressure, fever, and rapid heart rate.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed to help diagnose GI emergencies include laboratory tests (e.g., blood tests, stool tests, urine tests), imaging tests (e.g., CT scan, MRI scan, ultrasound, barium enema), and endoscopic procedures (e.g., upper endoscopy, upper GI series, sigmoidoscopy).

© 1998-2009 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Gastrointestinal (GI) Emergencies Resources

	Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your GI Condition The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions about your gi condition. Print this free handout to take with you on your next office visit.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Join Our GI Emergencies Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer