Diagnosis and management of small intestinal diseases

Topics related to the diagnosis of small intestinal diseases that are covered in this review include a potential new serum marker for intestinal infarction; an improved diagnostic test for Whipple's disease; diagnostic enteroscopy; the use of marker studies to help diagnose and localize the site of partial small bowel obstruction; and the use of a color card to help localize the source of rectal bleeding. Treatment topics include the use of urokinase for acute superior mesenteric vein or portal vein thrombosis; the use of nasogastric versus long intestinal drainage tubes for acute adhesive small bowel obstruction; guidelines for the use of octreotide to treat secretory diarrhea; and the use of patient-controlled analgesia pumps after uncomplicated colonic surgery and postoperative ileus.