Chapter 039. Nausea, Vomiting, and Indigestion (Part 6) pps

Chapter 039. Nausea, Vomiting, and Indigestion (Part 6) Gastric Motor Dysfunction Disturbed gastric motility is purported to cause acid reflux in some cases of indigestion. Delayed gastric emptying is also found in 25–50% of functional dyspeptics. The relation of these defects to symptom induction is uncertain; many studies show poor correlation between symptom severity and the degree of motor dysfunction. Impaired gastric fundus relaxation after eating may underlie selected dyspeptic symptoms like bloating, nausea, and early satiety. Visceral Afferent Hypersensitivity Disturbed gastric sensory function is proposed as a pathogenic factor in functional dyspepsia. Visceral afferent hypersensitivity was first demonstrated in patients with irritable bowel syndrome who had heightened perception of rectal balloon inflation without changes in rectal compliance. Similarly, dyspeptic patients experience discomfort with fundic distention to lower pressures than healthy controls. Some patients with heartburn exhibit normal esophageal acid exposure. These individuals with functional heartburn are believed to have heightened perception of normal esophageal pH. Other Factors Helicobacter pylori has a clear etiologic role in peptic ulcer disease, but ulcers cause a minority of cases of dyspepsia. Infection with H. pylori is considered to be a minor factor in the genesis of functional dyspepsia. In contrast, functional dyspepsia is associated with a reduced sense of physical and mental well-being and is exacerbated by stress, suggesting an important role for psychological factors. Analgesics cause dyspepsia, while nitrates, calcium channel blockers, theophylline, and progesterone promote acid reflux. Other exogenous stimuli that induce acid reflux include ethanol, tobacco, and caffeine via LES relaxation. Genetic factors may contribute to development of acid reflux. Differential Diagnosis Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is prevalent in Western society. Heartburn is reported once monthly by 40% of Americans and daily by 7–10%. Most cases of heartburn occur because of excess acid reflux; however, approximately 10% of patients with functional heartburn exhibit normal degrees of esophageal acid exposure. Functional Dyspepsia Nearly 25% of the populace has dyspeptic symptoms at least six times yearly, but only 10–20% of these individuals present to physicians. Functional dyspepsia, the cause of symptoms in 60% of dyspeptic patients, is defined as ≥3 months of bothersome postprandial fullness, early satiety, epigastric pain, or epigastric burning with symptom onset at least 6 months before diagnosis in the absence of organic cause. Most patients follow a benign course, but a small number with H. pylori infection or on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) progress to ulcer formation. As with idiopathic gastroparesis, some cases of functional dyspepsia result from prior gastrointestinal infection. Ulcer Disease In most cases of GERD, there is no destruction of the esophagus. However, 5% of patients develop esophageal ulcers, and some form strictures. Symptoms do not reliably distinguish nonerosive from erosive or ulcerative esophagitis. Some 15–25% of cases of dyspepsia stem from ulcers of the stomach or duodenum. The most common causes of ulcer disease are gastric infection with H. pylori and use of NSAIDs. Other rare causes of gastroduodenal ulcer include Crohn's disease (Chap. 289) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (Chap. 287), a condition resulting from gastrin overproduction by an endocrine tumor. Malignancy Dyspeptic patients often seek care because of fear of cancer. However, <2% of cases result from gastroesophageal malignancy. Esophagealsquamous cell carcinoma occurs most often in those with histories of tobacco or ethanol intake. Other risk factors include prior caustic ingestion, achalasia, and the hereditary disorder tylosis. Esophageal adenocarcinoma usually complicates long-standing acid reflux. Between 8 and 20% of GERD patients exhibit intestinal metaplasia of the esophagus, termed Barrett's metaplasia. This condition predisposes to esophageal adenocarcinoma (Chap. 87). Gastric malignancies include adenocarcinoma, which is prevalent in certain Asian societies, and lymphoma. . Chapter 039. Nausea, Vomiting, and Indigestion (Part 6) Gastric Motor Dysfunction Disturbed gastric motility is purported to cause acid reflux in some cases of indigestion. . between symptom severity and the degree of motor dysfunction. Impaired gastric fundus relaxation after eating may underlie selected dyspeptic symptoms like bloating, nausea, and early satiety. Visceral. prior caustic ingestion, achalasia, and the hereditary disorder tylosis. Esophageal adenocarcinoma usually complicates long-standing acid reflux. Between 8 and 20% of GERD patients exhibit intestinal