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Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Author Spotlight: Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Gastric Content Assessment and Risk Stratification in Perioperative Care
Published on: September 22, 2023
Approach to Patients with Epigastric Pain
Patrick Robinson1, John C Perkins2
1Virginia Tech Carilion Emergency Medicine Residency, Department of Emergency Medicine, 1 Riverside Circle, 4th Floor, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA.
Abstract:
Epigastric pain is an extremely common complaint in the emergency department and has an associated broad differential diagnosis. In the differential it is important to consider cardiac causes that may be mistaken for gastrointestinal disorders as well as various serious intra-abdominal causes. This article highlights the limitations in laboratory testing and guides providers through the appropriate considerations for advanced imaging. Special attention is focused on acute pancreatitis, esophageal emergencies, and peptic ulcer disease/gastritis and their associated complications.
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