Periodic examinations of the upper gastrointestinal tract and abdominal ultrasonic examination in maintenance dialysis patients

We conducted a large-scale investigation of abdominal disease in maintenance dialysis patients. The investigation covered 1404 cases who underwent upper gastrointestinal tract examination in our hospital in the 5 years since 1983 and 634 cases who underwent abdominal ultrasonic examination in the 2 years since 1986. Upper gastrointestinal fluoroscopy was conducted in 55.5% all the total cases during the 5 years and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed in 30.7% of the cases with abnormal findings. In the 5 years we diagnosed 30 cases (3.9%) of gastric ulcer, 44 cases (5.6%) of duodenal ulcer and 2 cases (0.3%) of early gastric carcinoma. Abdominal ultrasonic examination was performed in 70.3% of all cases in the 2 years. We also diagnosed 34 cases (7.6%) of gall stones, 15 cases (3.4%) of gall bladder polyps and 1 case (0.2%) of hepatocellular carcinoma. It is important to investigate periodically the abdominal diseases of maintenance dialysis patients, who are often asymptomatic.