“Chronic Recurrent Abdominal Pain And Evaluation of Disease By Various Diagnostic Modalities”

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study is done to make a definitive diagnosis by using various diagnostic modalities available at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and to identify the Common etiologies for Chronic Recurrent Pain. METHODS: This study was conducted at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital. A sample size of 50 patients with complaints of Chronic Recurrent pain abdomen were taken into this study. The patients with Acute Abdomen, patients undergoing previous surgeries and urological and Gynaecological causes were excluded from this Study. RESULTS: Of the total 50 patients studied, it was found that the incidence was more commoner in males, and patients between 31-40 years were commonly affected.16 of the 50 patients were Alcoholics for more than 10 years and Chronic smokers and vegetarians were less commonly affected than people taking mixed diet. The patients with low Socio Economic status were commonly affected in this study. This study also showed that OGD scopy revealed the diagnosis in patients with peptic ulcer disease, GORD and Gastritis, CT was confirmatory in case of Chronic pancreatitis and colonoscopy proved its importance in identification of intra luminal pathologies such as Neoplastic Growth. Of the total 50 patients 43 patients were treated conservatively of which 17 got relieved of their symptoms and 7 patients were subjected to surgical treatment of which 4 patients got relieved of their symptoms. CONCLUSION: The common etiology for chronic recurrent pain abdomen in adults at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital was peptic ulcer, chronic pancreatitis, Gastritis, GORD, TB abdomen followed by malignancy. For patients with upper abdominal pathology, endoscopy proves to be a confirmatory diagnosis and for patients with lower abdominal pathology CT abdomen and diagnostic Laparoscopy gives better information in arriving at a diagnosis. For 5 out of total 50 patients, definitive diagnosis could not be established inspite of all investigations. These patients were classified as chronic intractable abdominal pain, which is found to be more common in females. They were given placebo and referred to psychiatrists for further management.