Nexium, also known as Esomeprazole, is a medication used to decrease acid in your stomach. It treats conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux (a condition where stomach acids move back up your digestive tract), duodenal ulcers (a sore in part of...
After the liver produces bile, the gallbladder, a small organ located directly beneath the liver, stores it for future use. Small crystallized balls of bile, or gallstones, can form in the gallbladder, cause inflammation and infection, and make a...
A feeding tube is a flexible, small lumen, hollow tube that is inserted into the stomach. The duration of time that the tube is in place is dependent upon the patient's needs. A feeding tube is recommended when a patient is unable to receive...
Feeding tube removal is usually performed by a licensed health care professional, either a nurse or physician. Nasogastric feeding tubes are rigid plastic tubes that are inserted through the nose and passed down through the esophagus to rest in...
Patients with colon cancer may develop a condition called a bowel obstruction. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the tumor prevents food and liquids from continuing through the intestinal tract. The intestines continue to try...
Many people experience bloating and gas at some point during their lives. Fleeting gas and bloating are common symptoms that do not usually indicate any underlying health conditions. Acute, severe bloating and gas can signal a viral infection,...
For children who are unable to eat normally by mouth, feeding tubes provide necessary calories and nutrients. Also called an enteral feeding, this type of feeding may be the only method of consuming food for some children, either as a...
Feeding tubes are placed for infants who have trouble eating with a bottle or breastfeeding. For many children, a feeding tube is a temporary measure until they overcome the disability that prohibits feeding. The type of feeding tube used depends...
The surgical removal of the stomach is caused by peptic ulcer disease, trauma or cancer. The entire stomach or part of the stomach is removed in a gastrectomy. Monitoring the surgical site is important, as is your post-operative diet....
Blockage of the small bowel, or small bowel obstruction, is a blockage in the small intestine that impedes the normal passage of fluid and digested material. The blockage is categorized as partial or complete. Most partial small bowel obstructions...
Babies are born with a desire to eat, which is a necessary component of weight gain and development. Preterm babies are born with underdeveloped bodies, resulting in challenges associated with their digestive systems. Premature babies need plenty...
Feeding intolerance occurs when a baby is unable to eat and digest food without becoming ill. The condition affects both preterm and full-term infants. Feeding intolerance may be difficult for parents to manage, as feedings often are a time of...
A blockage in the intestinal tract is referred to as an intestinal obstruction. The blockage usually occurs in the small intestine or colon and may be partial or complete. Partial blockages significantly hinder the movement of contents through the...
Feeding tubes are sometimes necessary for the delivery of food and nutrition when other methods are not sufficient. Inserted either nasally or directly through the stomach, nourishment by way of breast milk, formula or liquid food supplements can...
The Golytely Cleanse -- or polyethylene glycol 3350 solution -- is a doctor-prescribed colon cleanse that comes in the form of a white powder in a large jug. You mix the solution with 4 l of water and take it orally to prepare you for a lower...
Small bowel obstruction occurs when the intestine loses function as a result of either partial or complete blockage. Postoperative scar tissue causes most bowel obstructions and can happen anywhere from four weeks to many years after surgery. An...
A cholesystectomy is a surgical procedure where a surgeon removes your gall bladder. Reasons for cholesystectomy include infection, inflammation or the formation of gallstones. The surgery for gall bladder removal may be laparoscopic or open,...
An intestinal blockage, also called an intestinal obstruction, can occur in either the small intestine or large intestine. The obstruction may be caused by a mechanical condition, such as an adhesion which binds a section of the intestine, a...
Medical conditions can prevent the intake of adequate nutrition via a usual diet. Esophageal obstruction by a tumor, or neurological conditions that preclude normal swallowing, require a liquid diet. Liquid nutrition in the form of Boost...
During cancer treatment, the body needs adequate nutrition to keep up strength, fight infection and repair the body's tissues. Cancer patients may not always be able to get the necessary nutrients because of side effects from treatment and thus...
Feeding tubes provide nutrition to patients who can not eat normally. This includes patients suffering from burns, liver failure, and neck or head injuries, or patients who are comatose, according to Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. There are...
Marasmus is a form of protein-energy malnutrition that is caused by prolonged deficiency of proteins and calories. Marasmus is also caused by health conditions such as parasitic worm infections, malabsorption, vomiting, diarrhea and tuberculosis,...
Hiccups are caused by the involuntary contraction of the diaphragm and the near-immediate closure of the vocal cords. Normal hiccups last for minutes or hours and usually develop in response to eating too quickly, drinking alcohol, temperature...
Gastric ulcers, also known as peptic ulcers, are sores that form on the thin lining of your stomach, intestines or esophagus, says the Mayo Clinic. Typical symptoms of a gastric ulcer include a burning pain anywhere between your chest and navel...
Abdominal adhesions are bands of scar-like tissue that form in the abdomen, typically after surgery. These bands of tissue can attach to other organs in the abdomen and cause an abnormality in organ function. This occurs because adhesions prevent...
Inflammatory bowel disease refers to ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Both are chronic inflammatory diseases that occur in the alimentary, or GI, tract. According to Family Doctor, about 500,000 people in the United States have this...
As the Surgery Channel explains, there are a number of things that must be done before the actual gastrectomy procedure. A number of tests, which can include X-rays, a CT scan, blood tests and ultrasound, are done to ensure that the operation is...
Abdominal cramping is a common symptom that can have a variety of causes. In most cases, abdominal cramps are not serious and occur as a result of the gas and bloating associated with digestive diseases or intestinal infections. Occasionally,...
Activated charcoal is used as an antidote to treat certain types of poisoning, such as spider bites, mushroom poisoning and snake bites. If you think that you or someone you know has been poisoned, you should contact the emergency services...
