abdominal pain not associated with meals. He had had 3 melena stools and 2 episodes of nonbilious, non-bloody emesis. He reported no NSAID use, weight loss or fever and had no history of excessive bleeding or of gastrointestinal or liver disease. The patient was pale, afebrile and hemodynamically stable. His abdomen was soft and diffusely tender, with no rebound tenderness or guarding. There wa...