209 - constipation/ibs Flashcards
what is the rome criteria for constipation?
bowel movements less than three times a week
what is 1ry constipation?
functional constipation which is chronic. Due to dysmotility or mechanic problems eg obstructed defaecation syndrome (rectocoele, rectal intussusception, anismus)
what is 2ry constipation?
caused by a drug or medical condition such as:
diabetes (dysmotility), hypothyroidism (↓motilty & slow transit), panhypopituitarism(↓secretion of all hormones)/pheochromocytoma(adrenal gland tumour)/endocrine Ca) which cause hypocalcaemia/hypokalaemia, CNS diesease (parkinson,MS,CVA, spinal injury), drugs (opioids, iron, Ca channel blockers, anticholinergic agents like TCAs
what is the criteria for irritable bowel syndrome
at least 12 week history in past year of abdo pain/discomfort plus 2 of following 3:
*relieved with defaecation
*change in stool frequency
*change in stool form
Also mucous & bloating with distension - constipation dominant, diarrhoea dominant or both
what investigations are available for constipation?
- colonic transit study - capsules with radio opaque plastic rings taken for 3 days. On 5th day XR taken. If 5 or less rings = normal colonic transit, most rings scattered in colon = hypomotility/colonic inertia, if most rings gathered in recto sigmoid = functional outlet obstruction
- colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, endocanal US, rectal biopsy
what management options are available for constipation?
1st adjust constipating medicine & ↑ fluid intake (1.5L no diuretics) & avoid fat (gastrocolic reflex - cramping) then laxatives:
- 1st - bulk forming (isphagula husk, methylcellulose) - retain fluid in stool, soften, ↑mass which stimulates peristalsis
- 2nd - osmotic (lasctulose) - ↑fluid in colon, cause distension which stimulates peristalis. also soften
- if soft - stimulant (senna, bisacodyl) - stimulate colonic +/- rectal nerves
- surface wetting agents (docusate) - ↓ surface tension of stool allowing water to penetrate & soften
apart from constipation therapies what management techniques are available for IBS?
- pain management - anticholinergics (relax smooth muscle), antimuscarinics (mebeverine), peppermint oil
- psychological therapies eg CBT
- dietary management - avoid carbs & sugar alcohol
- motility drugs - serotonin 5-HT4 receptor agonist (stim peristalsis), selective ty2 Cl channel activator (stim cl/h20 secretion into lumen)
what are the two parts of the enteric nervous system?
- myenteric plexus - between circular & longitudinal muscles, continuous network of ganglia from oesophagus to anus with symp, para & somatic communication, controls muscularis externa
- submucosal plexus - in submucosa, absent in oesophagus & limited in stomach, only para & somatic communication, controls muscularis mucosae
how is the enteric nervous system innervated & affected by the parasympathetic, sympathetic and somatic sensory systems?
- para (vagus, pelvic splanchnic (s2-4)) - speeds motility, relaxes sphincters, ↑ acid & glandular secretions
- symp (sup & inf mesenteric ganglia) - slows motility, contracts sphincters, stim enzymatic secretion & inhibits glandular
- somatic sensory (afferents to spinal ganglia & some vagus) - registers pain
what are the functions of the 2 parts of the colon?
- ascending & transverse (propulsive) - fluid & electrolyte absorption (liquid stool to solid), bacterial fermentation, absorption of fatty acids from fermentation
- descending, sigmoid, rectum (non-propulsive) - reservoir (storage of stool), defaecation
what causes diarrhoea in the small bowel and colon?
- ↓ absorption in small bowel - osmotic (coeliac or mgso4), ↑ permeability of mucosa (crohn’s, infection), secretion of fluid into lumen (cholera)
- abnormal constituents of lumen (cystic fibrosis, pancratic insufficiency
- abnormal colon function - ↓absorption in ulcerative colitis
what type of muscles are the external/internal anal sphincters made from and how does each function?
- external - striated muscle. controlled involuntarily by spinal reflexes which cause contraction to maintain continence in sampling and inhibition reflex inhibits contraction during straining for defaecation. Also Controlled voluntarily
- internal - smooth circular muscle of rectum. Innervated by autonomic system (symp excitatory, para inhibit) & functions involuntarily to relax on rectal distension to allow sampling
what is the anorectal sampling reflex?
rectum fills, internal sphincter relaxes to allow portion of rectal content to enter upper anal canal where sampled epithelium (gas, liquid or solid), external sphincter instantly contracts to maintain continance
what is the process of defacation?
rectal filling detected by stretch receptors, voluntary decision made to defaecate & voluntary contraction of abdo muscles to strain, simulataneous reflexes reduce tone in sphincters & pelvic floor to reduce anorectal angle, then stool propelled out of anus
what maintains continence and what causes incontinence?
- continence - sphincter tone, intact central control, intact pathways & peripheral nerves, functioning reservoir (rectal capacity), enorectal angle
- incontinence - neonatal (not learnt), cerebral (old age & psych), trauma (obs, surg, accidents), diseases (anorectal sepsis, IBD esp crohns)