Abstract
The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an enigmatic and variable constellation of symptoms accounting for 20 to 30 percent of patients referred to a gastroenterologist who devotes much of his time proving that they do not have a more serious disease. Were it not for the IBS, fewer physicians would be required and the diagnosis of organic gut disorders would be much easier. This chapter will emphasize the great prevalence of the IBS, the lack of any reliable pathophysiologic marker or test, the patient’s hidden agenda, which may have little to do with physical symptoms, the importance of a positive diagnosis, and Sir William Osler’s principle of “do no harm” in investigation and treatment. Because this syndrome is troubling enough, inappropriate tests or treatments can only make matters worse.
Our bowels are at their best when they function silently and with only intermittent recognition.
Sherwood Gorbach (1974)
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© 1989 W. Grant Thompson
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Thompson, W.G. (1989). The Irritable Bowel. In: Gut Reactions. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6491-5_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6491-5_13
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