4 - Upper And Lower GI Flashcards
UGI bleeding above:
Ligament of Treitz
MCC of UGI
Peptic ulcer dz
Increased risk for PUD
Smoking
ASA
NSAIDs
H. pylori
Cause of esophageal varices?
Portal HTN
EtOH abuse
Liver dz
Mallory-Weiss Syndrome
Longitudinal mucosa tear at the GEJ (weak point)
Due to repeated vomiting followed by bright red hematemesis
Associated with drunks, DKA, chemo
Also, excessive coughing or seizures
What can masquerade as UGI?
ENT bleeding
Unusual but important cause of UGI
Aortoenteric fistula 2/2 preexisting aortic graft
Leads to exsanguination via hematemesis and/or hematochezia
Classically, what suggests a UGI source?
Coffee-ground emesis and hematemesis
Hematemesis following retching suggests:
Mallory-Weiss tear
Bright red or maroon rectal bleeding unexpectedly originates from UGI sources how often?
Only about 14% of the time
What does this mean? If it’s bright red or maroon, it’s POSSIBLE that its UGI, but less likely
Associated sxs with UGI bleed
HOTN Tachycardia Angina Syncope Weakness Confusion
What may occur even in the face of profound hypovolemia?
Paradoxical bradycardia
Which findings lead you toward liver dz?
Spider angiomas
Palmar erythema
Jaundice
Gynecomastia
Most important test during UGI?
Type and cross (in case you need it)
Why is BUN high in acute UGI bleed?
Digestion and absorption of Hgb
If lower, doesn’t really have time to break-down or absorb it so not as much elevation
What is a single elevated lactate level a sentinel sign of?
Severe illness (in GI bleed pts)
What study is CI’d in GI bleed?
Barium contrast
In a patient without hx of hematemesis, a (+) NGT aspirate provides what?
Strong evidence for a UGI source of bleeding
Does a negative nasogastric tube aspirate r/o UGI?
Nope
False negatives possible for a number of reasons
Most reliable way to dx UGI bleeding in the ED?
Visual inspection
Is NGT CI’d for pts with esophageal varices?
Nah.
Predictors of worse outcomes for UGI
Older patients Comorbidities Red hematemesis Hematochezia Red blood on NG aspirate Hemodynamic instability Abnormal lab studies
Prior variceal banding, clamping or cauterization of an ulcer bed