Study of Clinical Profile of Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms and their Association with Endoscopy at a Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

Introduction: Upper endoscopy, also referred to as Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), is performed by passing a ­flexible endoscope through the mouth into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The gut is accessible with endoscopy, which can diagnose causes of pain, nausea and vomiting, bleeding, weight loss, altered bowel function, and fever1 . Aims and Objectives: To study indications and findings of patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, to make association of endoscopic findings in these patients presenting with different upper GI symptoms and to document the demographics of subjects undergoing upper GI endoscopy at a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective observational study carried out at the Department of Medicine at Dr Vasantrao Pawar Medical College and Hospital, with due permission from the ethics committee for the period of August 2017 to November 2019. All the patients who were found with upper GI symptoms and underwent endoscopy after giving informed consent were included in the study. Total of 136 patients presenting with upper GI symptoms fulfilling the criteria were included in the study and their endoscopic findings were associated. Results: Out of total 136 patients, maximum number of the patients belonged to 51-60 years age group (21.3%). There was male preponderance (61.8% were male 38.2% were female). The most common GI symptom was hemetemesis/malena (40.4%) followed by nausea/vomiting (27.9%). Esophagitis (37%) was the most common endoscopic finding followed by esophageal varices (33%). Out of 45 patients who had esophageal varices 32 (71%) were treated with Endoscopic Variceal Ligation (EVL) and they responded well. Conclusion: Through this study it was concluded that most of the patients presenting with upper GI symptoms were among the elderly age group (51-60 years). Upper GI bleed was the most common symptom and indication for endoscopy followed by nausea/vomiting. The common endoscopic finding among hematemesis/malena patient was esophageal varices and most of them responded well to Endoscopic Variceal Ligation.