When and how to investigate the dyspeptic patient

Malagelada J-R. When and how to investigate the dyspeptic patient. Scand J Gastroenterol 1991, 26(suppl 182), 70-74 When and how to investigate the dyspeptic patient is an issue that requires careful analysis and excludes dogmatic assertions. There are several key decision factors that must be considered on a case-by-case basis: who is the patient, what kind of physician cares for the patient, and what level of uncertainty are both patient and physician prepared to accept? These factors determine to a large extent whether reassurance only. a therapeutic trial, or diagnostic investigation will be carried out. The latter may also be stratified at two levels: a basic level at which the aim is to exclude major organic disease as the cause of dyspeptic symptoms and a higher level at which more complex imaging and physiologic tests would be cairied out to achieve a more precise diagnosis. © 1991 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.