Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Bleeding James M. Richter Patients seen in the office setting will often report minor or self-limited episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding. They may complain of melena (tarry black…
Evaluation of Jaundice James M. Richter The onset of jaundice or dark urine usually alerts the patient or the patient’s family to seek medical attention. When associated symptoms are minimal,…
Approach to the Patient with Heartburn and Reflux (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) Francis X. Campion James M. Richter Heartburn is a nearly universal experience. In the United States, an estimated 6%…
Evaluation of Dysphagia and Suspected Esophageal Chest Pain James M. Richter Dysphagia is the unpleasant sensation of difficulty in swallowing (see Chapter 20). Odynophagia refers to painful swallowing. Because esophageal…
Evaluation of Nausea and Vomiting Braden Kuo James M. Richter Sonia S. Yoon Nausea and vomiting are common presenting complaints in primary care practice, particularly when acute in onset—estimated prevalence…
Evaluation of Abdominal Pain James M. Richter One of primary care’s most daunting challenges is the outpatient assessment of abdominal pain. When the pain is acute in onset, triage decisions…
Prevention of Viral Hepatitis Jules L. Dienstag Viral hepatitis is an infectious disease of the liver that is estimated to afflict more than 5 million people and to cause several…
Screening for Colorectal Cancer Patrick S. Yachimski Lawrence S. Friedman Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States. Americans face…
Screening and Case Finding for Gastrointestinal Cancers Cancers of the digestive tract present a major challenge, because early-stage disease, though potentially curable, is typically asymptomatic and later-stage disease is often…
Smoking Cessation Nancy A. Rigotti Cigarette smoking is the major preventable cause of death in the United States. Compared to nonsmokers, current smokers sacrifice at least 10 years of life…
