SAGES Magazine

THE SOUTH AFRICAN GASTROENTEROLOGY REVIEW 2022 | VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 1 | 44 Table 3 shows that the most frequently occurring upper endoscopy finding was that of diffuse gastritis. Over 1 in 10 patients had a normal upper gastroscopy (11.6%). One hundred and forty (40.94%) patients were initiated on treatment for Helicobacter pylori with triple therapy while eighty-nine patients (26.02%) were treated with proton- pump inhibitors (PPIs) monotherapy. Over one-quarter of patients who underwent colonoscopy (12/42,28.5%) and (62/300,20%) who underwent gastroscopy were HIV positive. The association between upper gastroscopy findings and epigastric pain (n=106) was evaluated using Fisher’s exact test. Table 4 shows a significant association between epigastric pain and diffuse gastritis, hiatal hernia and duodenitis. Table 3: Gastroscopy Findings Gastroscopy findings Number of cases (N=300) Percentage (%) Normal 35 11.6 Diffuse gastritis 142 47.18 Hiatal hernia 44 14.62 Oesophagitis 42 14 Duodenitis 33 11.04 Oesophageal candidiasis 21 7 Antral gastritis 17 5.7 Oesophageal malignancy 16 5.32 Gastric reflux 14 4.68 Prepyloric ulcer 11 3.65 Erosive gastritis 10 3.33 Healed gastric ulcer 8 2.68 Healed duodenal ulcer 6 2.01 Poorly prepared 5 1.68 Oesophageal stricture 5 1.68 Bleeding 4 1.34 Gastric candidiasis 3 1 Pyloric stricture 3 1 Atrophic gastritis 2 0.67 Perforated gastric ulcer 2 0.67 Oesophageal varices 2 0.67 Table 5 demonstrates a significant association between dysphagia and oesophageal malignancy, diffuse gastritis and oesophagitis. A similar positive association was noted between hoarseness of voice and oesophageal malignancy. [Table 6] No such significant associations were found between abdominal pain, anaemia, maelena stools, dyspepsia and upper gastroscopy findings. A total of forty-two patients had colonoscopy performed, with most patients in this group being males (23 vs. 19). The commonest indication for colonoscopy was per rectal (PR) bleeding followed by constipation. The most frequent colonoscopy finding was that of haemorrhoids. One-third of colonoscopy yielded normal results. [Tables 7&8] Table 4: Upper gastroscopy (UGE) findings in patients presenting with epigastric pain Findings Number of cases p-value Diffuse Gastritis 105 <0.001 Hiatal hernia 30 0.033 Duodenitis 24 0.017 Oesophagitis 23 0.861 Erosive gastritis 8 0.112 Oesophageal malignancy 0 - Table 5: UGE findings in patients with Dysphagia (n=59) UGE Findings Number of cases p-value Oesophageal malignancy 15 <0.001 Diffuse gastritis 13 <0.001 Hiatal hernia 5 0.134 Duodenitis 1 0.11 Oesophagitis 13 <0.001 Table 6: UGE findings in patients with hoarse voice (n=4) UGE Findings Number of cases p-value Oesophageal malignancy 2 0.015 Hiatal hernia 1 0.472 Oesophagitis 1 0.456 Erosive gastritis 0 1.000 CASE SERIES