ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic findings of patients reporting with upper gastrointestinal symptoms
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective observational study
PLACE AND DURATION: Shaukat Omar Memorial Fauji Foundation Hospital, Karachi and Khan Diagnostic Laboratories, Malir Karachi from January 2001 to May 2010
METHODS: All the consecutive cases that underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination during January 2001 to May 2010 were included in the study. The computerised data of these cases was retrieved from hospital record. The cases were thoroughly reviewed regarding their history, examination, investigations and findings of the endoscopy. Patients with known gall bladder and pancreatic diseases and advanced malignancies were excluded. Results were compiled and statistically analysed using SPSS v.16
RESULTS: A total of 1493 patient were included. Male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Mean age was 44.38+13.52 years. The common indications were dyspepsia, dysphagia and haemtemesis. Four hundred and thirteen [27.7%] endoscopies were normal. The common pathological findings were Oesophagitis 25%, duodenal ulcer 12.9%, Gastritis 11.7%, gastric ulcer 8.4%, esophageal malignancies 4.5%, gastric malignancies 4.3% others i.e. less common findings [oesophageal web, oesophageal stricture, oesophageal varices, oesphageal candidiasis, achalasia etc] were 5.5%
CONCLUSION: Upper GI endoscopy is an important diagnostic tool for patients of upper GI symptoms to differentiate pathological from non-ulcer dyspepsia. Upper GI endoscopy is recommended in all cases of dyspepsia to evaluate the actual pathology