Same day upper and lower endoscopy results in patients presenting with nonspecific abdominal pain

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy results in patients who presented with abdominal pain and received a diagnosis of nonspecific abdominal pain following the examination and tests. Material and Method: We included a total of 52 patients who presented at the emergency service between 01.01.2011 and 01.01.2012 with symptoms of abdominal pain and received a diagnosis of nonspecific abdominal pain following normal examination, routine blood and urine tests and ultrasound analysis. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy on the same day. The results were evaluated and diagnoses made according to the endoscopy and pathology findings. Results: There were 23 (44.2%) males and 29 (55.8%) females. The mean age was 54.5 ± 15.3 (23-86) years. A pathology was present on upper endoscopy in 47 (90.4%) patients and lower endoscopy in 27 (51.9%) patients. Comparison of the pathology rates for upper endoscopy and colonoscopy showed a significantly higher rate for upper endoscopy. The most common findings were chronic gastritis with upper endoscopy (13 males, 221 females) and hemorrhoids with colonoscopy (7 males, 12 females). A pathology was present on both examinations in 25patients. Cancer was found in 7 (13.5%) patients (6 gastric, 1 colon cancer). Helicobacter pylori was (+) in 53.8% of the cases. Discussion and Conclusion: Same day upper and lower endoscopy in patients with nonspecific abdominal pain provided important results. However, we feel upper endoscopy should have priority when it is not possible to perform both investigations.