Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association
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Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · Dec 2011
Increasing frequency of opioid prescriptions for chronic abdominal pain in US outpatient clinics.
Opioids are sometimes used to treat chronic abdominal pain. However, opioid analgesics have not been proven to be an effective treatment for chronic abdominal pain and have been associated with drug misuse, constipation, and worsening abdominal pain. We sought to estimate the national prescribing trends and factors associated with opioid prescribing for chronic abdominal pain. ⋯ From 1997 to 2008 opioid prescriptions for chronic abdominal pain more than doubled. Further studies are needed to better understand the reasons for and consequences of this trend.
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Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · Nov 2011
Postoperative complications and mortality following colectomy for ulcerative colitis.
Complications after colectomy for ulcerative colitis (UC) have not been well characterized in large, population-based studies. We characterized postoperative in-hospital complications, stratified them by severity, and assessed independent clinical predictors, including use of immunosuppressants. ⋯ Postoperative complications frequently occur after colectomy for UC, predominantly among elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. Patients who were admitted to the hospital under emergency conditions and did not respond to medical treatment had worse outcomes when surgery was performed 14 or more days after admission.
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Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · Oct 2011
Factors that predict relief from upper abdominal pain after cholecystectomy.
Upper abdominal pain (UAP) in patients with gallstones is often treated by cholecystectomy but it frequently persists. We aimed to identify symptoms associated with relief. ⋯ UAP features and concomitant GERD, IBS, and somatization determine the odds for relief from UAP after cholecystectomy.