ACG

During the course of pain management with opioids, the line between relief and complications may be thin. At ACG 2015, the problems and solutions were covered.

Nearly 1/3 of C. difficile cases are community-acquired, placing the infection squarely in the sights of primary care physicians. A review from ACG 2015, here.

At least one-fifth of patients with abdominal pain may present in atypical fashion. A session at ACG 2015 stressed how essential it is to keep a broad differential.

From ACG 2015: Managing these complex patients requires a multidisciplinary approach--something like cardiogastroenterology.

An update for primary care from ACG 2015 on the evolving recipe for the "ideal prep.”

Results of a first-of-its-kind study announced at ACG 2015 compare the results of 2 common approaches to stop rebleeding after endoscopic intervention.

Sometimes called "asthma of the esophagus," EoE requires early detection for optimal management. This 2015 ACG presentation reviews Dx and Rx for primary care.

ACG 2015: Your patient with stubborn GERD may be a candidate for a new surgical approach, but before you refer to a specialist, check all the basics again.

A presentation on individualized treatment of pancreatic disease based on specific disease etiology offered a glimpse of the future at the 2015 American College of Gastroenterology Scientific Session on Sunday, October 18, 2015.

Diet diaries and food frequency questionnaires are both effective tools to capture important patterns between food items and symptoms of IBD.

Epidemiologic trends for diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding show the prevalence of the former is increasing over time while that of the latter is on the decline.

A 30% to 40% prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Crohn disease patients highlights the importance of testing these patients for vitamin D levels.

Data from pivotal international phase III clinical trials showed superior efficacy, safety, and convenience for a new wave of direct-acting oral agents. The breakthrough will benefit physicians in all practice settings, including primary care.

A presentation on October 14, 2013, at the American College of Gastroenterology Scientific Session by Joseph A. Murray, MD, FACG  (Mayo Clinic)Murray JA. Implications of gluten intolerance and celiac disease in IBS.  

Constipation is often treated as a simple functional disorder that responds well to improvements in diet, hydration, and exercise. That's not what happened to this young patient . . .

What accounts for the 129% increase in admissions for constipation over the past decade-and what can be done to avoid these expensive and often unnecessary admissions? Primary care clinicians take note.

This presentation at the ACG Scientific Meeting provided the requisite research-oriented material but an equal amount of practical information that will be useful for the general internist, family physician, DO, and primary care physician.

There are numerous treatment options, including a variety of over-the-counter agents to help patients with constipation. Here, a review of the more popular choices.

When to start screening-and which patients to screen? And with which screening method? Recommendations here from a panel of experts.

Patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease typically don’t receive preventive services at the same rate as general medical patients. Vaccination is a key area of confusion.

(AUDIO) There are disparities in the sensitivities and specificities of glucose and lactose hydrogen breath tests used to diagnose small intestine bacterial overgrowth and to distinguish patients with irritable bowel syndrome from healthy individuals. Just how useful are these tests? Insights from an expert here.

Several classes of drugs seem to have positive effects for patients with GI disorders--including NSAIDs, anticonvulsants, alpha-adrenergic agents, neuromuscular agents, and antidepressants. Details here.

Probiotics, prebiotics, herbal preparations, and acupuncture are among the most popular options pursued for GI disorders. But how helpful are these nonmedical options?

(AUDIO) Here, Christina Surawicz, MD, describes an organized approach to the evaluation and management of patients with chronic diarrhea.

Here: an update on the challenges of detection, diagnosis, and management of celiac disease and non–celiac disease and the importance of gluten sensitivity.

(AUDIO) According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than one-third of US adults are obese. The CDC also estimates that as many as 1.4 million Americans suffer from inflammatory bowel disorder. So is there a link?

Are you making the most out of your patients’ office visits? If you are not listening effectively, the answer is no, said Douglas A. Drossman, MD, at the American College of Gastroenterology 77th Annual Scientific Meeting in Las Vegas.

The number of patients who are dying because of upper GI bleeding has decreased over the past 2 decades, according to a study reported at the American College of Gastroenterology 77th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Patients who have chronic constipation may be at increased risk for colorectal cancer and benign neoplasms, researchers reported at the American College of Gastroenterology 77th Annual Scientific Meeting. In addition, new colonoscopy surveillance guidelines have been issued.

(AUDIO) What is the natural history of systemic corticosteroid therapy in ulcerative colitis? Insights here from Dr Nabeel Khan, Assistant Professor of Medicine in Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Tulane Medical Center-author of a new study on this topic.