CASE REPORT A 73 year old man presented with loss of mobility, anorexia, weight loss and pain in the left hip. Recent investigation of altered bowel habit had shown extensive diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon. On examination he was cachectic, dehydrated and pyrexic. There was redness, increased temperature, swelling and crepitus in the left groin with fixed flexion deformity and painful...

We evaluated colonoscopic neoplastic yield (adenomas and cancers) in a rural endoscopic unit alongside several key performance indicators known to influence yield. A second aim was to compare neoplastic yield according to colonoscopic indication.Methods We retrospectively audited 371 colonoscopies (163 male, 208 female) undertaken over six months (2007-2008) at the Mersey Hospital, Tasmania.Res...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, meanly characterized by recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort and altered bowel habit. It is a complex disorder involving biological, environmental, and psychosocial factors. The diagnosis is achieved according to the Rome III criteria provided that organic causes have been excluded. Although ...

CASE REPORT A 75-year-old female patient presented with painless haematuria. IVP was normal and at cystoscopy a globular swelling found at the fundus of the bladder was resected. Histology revealed pan-mural inflammation with abundant submucosal oedema. The urothelium showed no evidence of dysplasia or malignancy. Two months later in the out patient clinic a periumbilical fistulous tract opened...

BACKGROUND Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) tablet compared to the soft gel capsule (SGC) formulation has no oleic acid or sorbitol, has no refrigeration or food-restriction requirements, and has less pharmacokinetic variability. We compared the tolerability, quality of life (QoL), and formulation preference after switching from LPV/r SGC to the tablet formulation. METHODS In a prospective, single...

AIM Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are reported to be common among patients with chronic disorders including end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This questionnaire study assessed the prevalence of GI symptoms among patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and to correlate with the presence of diabetes mellitus and psychosomatic symptoms in Asian patients with ESRD. METHODS A total of 123 patients (m...

BACKGROUND Referral of patients with large bowel symptoms is common and increasing. Currently most of these referrals are assessed at an outpatient clinic to determine the need and priority for investigation. METHODS Over 21 months, 1131 patients referred by the general practitioner with large bowel symptoms were randomized. Patients in the consultant-led group were assessed by surgeons with ...