Hepatitis QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD Hepatitis may be caused by a viral infection, or it may result from sensitivity to a hepatotoxic drug or chemical, from chronic excessive…

Cancers of the Gastrointestinal Tract QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD Esophageal tumors are almost always malignant, accounting for 6% of all gastrointestinal cancers and 1% of all new cancers,…

Liver and Biliary Anatomy and Physiology QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD The liver is an organ that receives blood flow from gallbladder, pancreas, intestines and spleen and is responsible…

Gastroenteritis: Part II QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD Nausea and vomiting are common problems with a variety of causes. Nausea is defined as an unpleasant sensation described as “feeling…

Gastroenteritis: Part I QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal system. It is a sudden onset on symptoms and can be caused by viral,…

Intestinal Obstruction and Paralytic Ileus QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction are caused by tumors, adhesions, or can occur due to effects of certain drugs…

Diverticulitis QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD By age 80, more than 50% of the U.S. population has acquired the condition called diverticulosis in which individual outpouchings, or diverticula, present…

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Part II QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD Crohn’s disease, a disease that is characterized by periods of exacerbations and remissions, can involve any segment of the…

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Part I QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes two disorders: ulcerative colitis (idiopathic proctocolitis) and Crohn’s disease (regional enteritis). Both conditions are…

Irritable Bowel Syndrome QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder characterized by periods of exacerbation often associated with stress. It…