1b General Surgery in the GI Tract Flashcards
What is the presentation of bowel ischaemia?
Sudden onset crampy abdominal pain
Bloody, loose stool
Fever
What are the main risk factors for bowel ischaemia?
Age >65 yr
Cardiac arrythmias (mainly AF), atherosclerosis
Which part of the bowel does Acute Mesenteric Ischaemia effect?
Small bowel = usually transmural
What is the usual cause of Acute Mesenteric Ischaemia?
Usually occlusive due tothromboemboli
What part of the bowel does Ischaemic Colitis generally effect?
Large bowel
What is the usual cause of Ischaemic Colitis?
Usuallydue to non-occlusive low flow states, or atherosclerosis
What is the clinical signs of Ischaemic Colitis?
Moderate pain and tenderness
What are some differences between acute mesenteric ischaemia and ischaemic colitis?
Ischemic colitis has a more mild and gradual onset while the other has sudden onset
Ischemic colitis has moderate pain while in the other abdominal pain is out of proportion
What are the key blood signs for bowel ischaemia?
FBC: neutrophilic leukocytosis
VBG: Lactic acidosis – associated with high lactate
What imaging is most useful to do for bowel ischaemia?
CT angiogram
What would be detected on a CT angiogram for Bowel Ischaemia?
Disrupted flow
Vascular stenosis
‘Pneumatosis intestinalis’ (transmural ischaemia/infarction)
Ischaemic colitis: Thumbprint sign (unspecific sign of colitis)
What does the prescence of lactic acid suggest?
That the bowel has already died = ischaemia
What is the conservative management for bowel ischaemia?
IV Fluid Resuscitation
broad spectrum anti biotics
NG tube for decompression
Anticoagulation
Why are broad spectrum antibiotics given for bowel ischaemia?
Colonic ischaemia can result in bacterial translocation & sepsis
What is the most important thing to do for the conservative management of bowel ischaemia?
Serial abdominal examination and repeat imaging to ensure that ischaemia is not occuring
What are the indications for surgical management of bowel ischaemia?
Small bowel ischaemia
Signs of peritonitis orsepsis
Haemodynamic instability
Massive bleeding
Fulminant colitis with toxic megacolon
What is meant by an exploratory laparotomy?
Open up into abdomen to see bowel - then do a resection of the necrotic bowel along with a mesenteric arterial bypass or open surgerical embolectomy
What is an endovascular revascularisation?
Balloon angioplasty/thrombectomy - balloon placed into the vessel and thrombus is removed
Describe the typical presentation of acute appendicitis?
Initially periumbilical pain that migrates to RLQ (within 24hours)
What are some signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis?
Anorexia, nausea +/- vomiting, low grade fever, change in bowel habit
What is McBurney’s Point?
McBurney’s point: tenderness in the RLQ (lateral 1/3 of a hypothetical line drawn from the right ASIS to the umbilicus)
What is Rovsing’s sign?
RLQ pain elicited on deep palpation of the LLQ
What are the clinical signs for acute appendicitis?
McBurney’s
Blumberg - rebound tendernesss in the RIQ
Rovsing’s
Psoas - RLQ pain on flexion of right hip against resistance
Obturator-RLQ pain on internal rotation of hip with hip&knee flexion
What is the scoring system used for acute appendicitis?
Alvarado score
What would be seen on a blood test for acute appendicitis?
FBC: neutrophilic leukocytosis
↑ed CRP
Urinalysis: possible mild pyuria/haematuria
Electrolyte imbalances in profound vomiting
What is the gold standard imaging for acute appendicitis?
CT, espcially in adults over the age of 50
USS in children, pregnant or breastfeeding
MRI if USS inconclusive
What are the factors contributing to the Alvarado score?
RLQ tenderness
Fever >37.3
Rebound tenderness
Pain Migration
Anorexia
N&V
WCC
Neutrophillia - left shift
What does the conservative management of Acute Appendicitis consist of?
IV Fluids, Analgesia, IV or PO Antibiotics
When there is an abscess, plegmon or sealed perforation with acute appendicitis, what should be done?
Resuscitation + IV ABx +/- percutaneous drainage
Consider Interval appendicectomy
What are three benefits of a Laparoscopic vs Open Appendicectomy?
- Less pain
- Lower risk of infection
- reduced length of infection
What is meant by intestinal obstruction?
restriction of normal passage of intestinal contents
What are the two main types of bowel obstruction?
Paralytic (Adynamic) ileus
Mechanical