Abstract

man to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) with a 5-month history of recurrent vomiting. This was associated with nausea. He would vomit at least 5 times per day. The vomitus was non-projectile, would usually take the colour of the food eaten and was never bilious. There was no history of abdominal pain, dysphagia, fever or headache. The colour of stools was normal but he had complained of constipation for 6 days prior to admission. He also admitted to weight loss, which could not be quantified. Prior to attending QECH he had been seen in several health facilities and had been treated with promethazine, but had had no relief of his symptoms. An endoscopy done at another hospital was documented as follows: ‘endoscopy shows reflux oesophagitis and lax lower oesophageal sphincter ’ There was no comment on whether there were structural abnormalities