Signs & Symptoms of the GI System

Question 1

What are the two most common causes of pancreatitis?

Answer 1

Alcohol and gallstones

Question 2

This acute abdomen emergency has a sudden onset at maximal intensity.

Answer 2

PUD (peptic ulcer disease) perforation

Question 3

Chronic pancreatitis has a similar presentation to acute pancreatitis. How do their presentations differ?

Answer 3

Steatorrhea (fatty stool), fat vitamin insufficiency, low or normal lipase levels

Question 4

This skin rash is highly associated with Celiac Disease.

Answer 4

Dermatitis herpetiformis

Question 5

What disease is due to gallstones in the gallbladder?

Answer 5

Choledocholithiasis

Question 6

What is Charcot’s triad?

Answer 6

RUQ pain, jaundice, and fever due to cholangitis

Question 7

What is the best imaging to identify gallstones in the gall bladder?

Answer 7

Ultrasound

Question 8

This is an early sign of cirrhotic decompensation.

Answer 8

Hepatic encephalopathy (confusion, sluggish, change in mental status)

Question 9

This abdominal pathology presents with gradual onset, nausea/vomiting, and mid-epigastric pain that may radiate to the back.

Answer 9

Acute Pancreatitis

Question 10

PUD is typically associated with what risk factors?

Answer 10

NSAIDs, H. pylori infection, tobacco, previous PUD

Question 11

What symptoms commonly present with GERD?

Answer 11

Heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia

Question 12

This abdominal pathology is due to blockage of bile ducts.

Answer 12

Cholangitis

Question 13

Does food worsen or lessen peptic ulcer pain?

Answer 13

Worsens - gastric ulcers due to increased gastric acid

Lessens - duodenal ucers due to sodium bicarbonate release

Question 14

What symptoms are associated with Celiac disease?

Answer 14

Diarrhea, steatorrhea (fatty stool), flatulence, weight loss, vitamin insufficiencies, osteopenia, rashes

Question 15

Acute abdomen is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. What are potential causes of this crisis?

Answer 15

PUD perforation, colonic perforation, cholangitis, acute bowel obstruction

Question 16

This acute abdomen emergency has a sudden onset, but pain presents lower than PUD perforations.

Answer 16

Colonic perforation (lower abdominal pain)

Question 17

What symptoms may present with hepatitis?

Answer 17

RUQ pain, nausea/vomiting (acute), malaise, jaundice, low-grade fever

Question 18

What are the two types of IBD?

Answer 18

Ulcerative Colitis, Chron’s disease

Question 19

What is the recommended treatment for acute pancreatitis?

Answer 19

Nothing by mouth (NPO), IV fluids, opioids for pain management

Question 20

What is Reynold’s triad?

Answer 20

Cholangitis with shock and altered mental status (Charcot’s triad is also present)

Question 21

How do hepatitis and cirrhosis differ?

Answer 21

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver.

Question 22

GI bleeding presents with hematemesis and blood in the stool. How does the appearance of blood differ depending on the location of the bleed?

Answer 22

Bleeding in the upper GI tract presents with melena (dark, sticky stool due to digested blood).

Bleeding in the lower GI tract presents with hematochezia (bright right blood in stool that is undigested).

Question 23

How does biliary pain present?

Answer 23

RUQ pain that gradually worsens, then improves, and repeats (crescendo/decrescendo)

Question 24

What is the best test to identify gallstones in biliary ducts?

Answer 24

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

Question 25

What is the gold-standard single test to diagnose IBD?

Answer 25

There isn’t one - need a history/physical, blood work, specimens, colonoscopy, and imaging

Question 26

Peptic ulcers may cause bleeding. How does this blood manifest?

Answer 26

Hematemesis or melena (shinny jet black stools due to digested blood)