title: Approach to Patients with Epigastric Pain.
abstract: Epigastric pain is an extremely common complaint in the emergency department and has an associated broad differential diagnosis. In the differential it is important to consider cardiac causes that may be mistaken for gastrointestinal disorders as well as various serious intra-abdominal causes. This article highlights the limitations in laboratory testing and guides providers through the appropriate considerations for advanced imaging. Special attention is focused on acute pancreatitis, esophageal emergencies, and peptic ulcer disease/gastritis and their associated complications.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Tech Carilion Emergency Medicine Residency, Department of Emergency Medicine, 1 Riverside Circle, 4th Floor, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA. Electronic address: Perobinson@carilionclinic.org.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Virginia Tech Carilion Emergency Medicine Residency, Department of Emergency Medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, 1 Riverside Circle, 4th Floor, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Perkins
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000208:Acute Disease; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D004630:Emergencies; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D036262:Empirical Research; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors
keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Boerhaave syndrome; Dyspepsia; Epigastric pain; Esophagitis; Food bolus impaction