Gastro-Intestinal System

Gastro-Intestinal System Patient History and Symptom Assessment This lecture provides an in-depth exploration of the clinical approach to assessing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms through effective patient history-taking. It focuses on identifying, interpreting, and categorizing key symptoms related to abdominal pain, digestive function, and upper and lower GI tract disorders. You are introduced to essential medical questioning techniques used to evaluate the site, radiation, associated factors, relieving and aggravating factors of abdominal pain. The lecture also covers culturally specific terms, such as “crise de foie”, and their English medical equivalents. In addition, learners examine important aspects of diet, appetite, weight changes, early satiety, nausea, vomiting, haematemesis, and post-prandial discomfort. Detailed guidance is provided on formulating appropriate clinical questions and understanding typical patient responses. The second part of the lecture addresses common GI conditions, including gastrooesophageal reflux disease (GERD), swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), and changes in bowel habits (diarrhoea, constipation) as well as abdominal distension. Students learn to identify alarm symptoms and recognize clinical patterns through structured questioning. Overall, this lecture equips learners with practical communication skills essential for patient assessment, emphasizing accuracy, clarity, and sensitivity in medical interviewing.