Specific Diagnoses and Management Principles of the Upper Digestive Canal

Acute abdominal conditions which frequently necessitate emergency interventions and/or surgery include visceral perforations i.e., gastric and duodenal ulcer, bleeding and rarely, ingested foreign bodies causing tissue damage, e.g., button batteries. However, the differential diagnosis (DD) of patients presenting with acute abdominal pain is much broader than this, including many benign conditions as well. Acute gastroenteritis, acute gastritis and peptic ulcer disease are benign and mostly temporary diseases which may be relieved with simple treatments and follow-up. Gastrointestinal bleeding (with or without esophageal varices) may cause hemorrhagic shock unless expedient management is pursued. Ingested foreign bodies can constitute emergency conditions with tissue damage, especially when lodged in a specific site. The most important thing about button batteries is the prevention of their ingestion. Complications increase in direct proportion to time wasted.