MBBS OSCE · gastroenterology
OSCE — Functional Dyspepsia
Eight-minute OSCE station on Functional Dyspepsia: focused history, examination priorities, investigations, emergency and definitive management.
On this page
Study tools
Exam tags
Brief (to candidate)
You will assess a patient with a presentation consistent with Functional Dyspepsia.
You have 8 minutes to take a focused history, outline examination, investigations, and management including red flags.
Clinical context
Functional dyspepsia is chronic (at least 3 months) epigastric pain or burning, bothersome postprandial fullness or early satiety, with no structural cause on endoscopy (including normal OGD). It is a disorder of gut-brain interaction driven by gastroduodenal dysmotility, visceral hypersensitivity, duodenal eosinophilic inflammation and low-grade mucosal immune activation, and is divided into two subtypes — postprandial distress syndrome (fullness, early satiety) and epigastric pain syndrome (pain, burning). Diagnosis requires excluding alarm features (age 55 or over, weight loss, bleeding, dysphagia, anaemia, family history) with OGD in selected patients and testing for H. pylori. Managemen
Candidate tasks
- Clarify onset, severity, associated features, and red-flag symptoms.
- State focused examination priorities.
- List first-line investigations and any named score/criteria.
- Give immediate resuscitation steps.
- Outline definitive management with doses/routes where standard.
- Name complications and disposition (ward / HDU / theatre / discharge safety-net).
- Mention one special-population modifier (pregnancy, child, elderly, CKD).
Examiner checklist
| Domain | Pass behaviours |
|---|---|
| Definition | Correct working diagnosis language |
| Assessment | Focused, prioritised, red flags sought |
| Investigations | Appropriate first-line + interpretation |
| Emergency care | ABC / time-critical actions first |
| Definitive care | Specific drugs/procedures, not generic phrases |
| Safety | New dyspepsia at age 55 or over, or with weight loss — urgent OGD to exclude gas |
| Safety | Dyspepsia with dysphagia, vomiting, anaemia, or visible bleeding — alarm feature |
| Safety | Persistent epigastric pain despite a PPI trial — reconsider diagnosis; repeat OG |
| Communication | Clear plan and safety-netting |
Model outline
Lead with the working diagnosis and life threats. Resuscitate before definitive tests when unstable. Use guideline-standard therapy with named agents and doses. Document escalation criteria and follow-up. A safe candidate is specific, structured, and never delays critical care for non-urgent imaging.