A Grade Surgical Conditions Flashcards
What is the acute abdomen?
A description of pain in the abdomen that has started in the past 5 days. There are a wide range of differentials
What are the differentials when abdo pain is generalised?
Intra-abdo haemorrhage
Viscous organ peforation
Mesenteric Ischaemia
Bowel Obstruction
What is the most serious cause of an intra-abdominal haemorrhage?
Ruptured AAA
What are the signs and symptoms of AAA?
- Back/loin pain
- Collapse
- Hypotension
- Pulsatile abdo mass
- Lower limb ischaemia
What investigations should be performed if AAA is suspected?
CT Abdo of pelvis and abdo w/ contrast of arteries
How is a AAA treated?
Surgery `
What can viscous organ perforation cause?
peritonitis
What are the most common causes of rupture?
Gastroduodenal Ulcer
Colonic Diverticulitis
What are the signs of viscus organ perforation?
RIGID ABDOMEN
Involuntary guarding
Patient lying completely still
Deranged observations, lactate and inflammatory markers
What investigations should be done if organ perforation suspected?
ERECT CXR
CT abdo/pelvis
What is the management for viscus organ perforation?
Prompt surgical repair and washout to prevent bowel contents from spilling out into abdo
What are the signs of mesenteric ischaemia?
Pain out of proportion to examination
High lactate
What are the risk factors for mesenteric ischaemia?
Artertiopaths (angina, previous MI)
AAA, AF, DVT, PE
What can mesenteric ischaemia lead to?
necrosis and perforation
What are the causes of mesenteric ischaemia?
Mesenteric artery thromboembolism (embolus thrown off from the heart plus chronic atherosclerotic thrombosis)
Non occulusive ischaemia related to hypotension
Mesenteric venous thrombosis
What are the investigations for mesenteric ischaemia?
Lactate
CT abdo and pelvis
What is bowel obstruction?
A mechanical blockage of bowel = proximal bowel dilates and becomes ischaemic, then necrotic and then it perforates
What are the signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction?
Colicky pain Nausea and vomiting ABSOLUTE CONSTIPATION Distended abdo Tinkling bowel sounds Deranged observations and inflammatory markers
What investigations should be requested?
CT(differentiates between small bowel and large bowel obstruction)
FBC, UsEs, Renal Function, Coag Panel, Serum amylase/lipase (large bowel suspected)
ABG, FBC, CRP, electrolytes, glucose, u&es, amylase, group and save
What are the causes of small bowel obstruction?
Adhesions
Hernia
What are the causes of large bowel obstruction?
Tumour
Volvulus
What is the treatment for bowel obstruction?
IV fluids, rebalance electrolytes, group and save
Primary resection/laparatomy
What conditions might present with right upper quadrant pain?
Cholecystitis and renal colic
What are the signs of cholecystitis ?
Sudden onset RUQ pain radiating to back
Charcots Triad (indicates ascending cholangitis)
- FEVER
- RUQ pain
- Jaundice
Reynauds Pentad (suggests obstruction) - Charcots Triad + shock and altered mental status
What imaging is performed for cholecystitis?
US is performed first to rule other things out and to evaluate any cholecystitis
How is cholecystitis treated?
Mild/Moderate
- Paracetamol/ diclofenac/morphine
- Plasma-lyte IV infusion
- Antibiotics if sepsis or infection suspected
- Cholecystostomy
Severe
- ITU admission
- Paracetamol/ diclofenac/morphine
- Plasma-lyte IV infusion
- Antibiotics if sepsis or infection suspected
- Cholecystostomy
What investigations are performed if cholecystitis is suspected?
FBC, CRP, bilirubin, LFTs, serum lipase or amylase, blood/bile cultures
What is cholecystitis?
Inflammation of the gallbladder
What are the causes of cholecystitis?
complete cystic duct obstruction due to an impacted gallstone in the gallbladder neck or cystic duct
What is Renal Colic?
- Colicky loin to gain pain caused by obstruction of flow in ureter leading to increased wall tension in urinary tract
- Increased prostaglandins synthesis resulting in vasodilatation causing diuresis which further increases pressure
What investigations should be performed if renal colic is suspected?
Urinalysis (microscopic haematuria)
24 hr urine collection for recurrent stone formers
FBC, serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine
CT-KUB (kidney,ureter,bladder)
Ultrasound
What is the management for renal colic?
Acute renal colic
- conservative management (hydration, pain control, anti-emetics)
Confirmed stone
- conservative management, surgical decompression, medical expulsive therapy (tamsulosin), surgical removal
antibiotic therapy (gentamicin) if infection indicated
What is pancreatitis?
Inflammation of the pancreas
What is the diagnostic criteria for pancreatitis?
2/3 of:
- acute onset of severe epigastric pain relieved by bending forward
- elevated amylase/lipase
- imaging features consistent on CT/MRI/US
What is the most common subtype of pancreatitis?
Interstitial oedematous pancreatitis
What form of imaging should be done if pancreatitis suspected?
US (identifies gallstones, vascular complications and necrosis)
CT (focal or diffuse enlargement, oedema, necrosis, abscess, haemorrhage, calcification)
How does a patient with pancreatitis present?
sudden-onset mid-epigastric or left upper quadrant abdominal pain, which often radiates to the back
Nausea and vomiting
Signs of hypovolaemia (hypotension, tachycardia, dry mucous membranes, sweating)
What investigations should be done for acute pancreatitis?
Serum lipase/amylase, FBC, CRP, LFTs, CXR, pulse oximetry, urea, serum calcium
What is the treatment for pancreatitis?
IV fluids Ibuprofen/codeine/morphine O2 Ondansetron Empiric IV antibiotics if infection suspected
What is gastric ulcer disease?
Gastric ulceration due to gastric acid excess
How does an ulcer present?
Epigastric pain relieved by eating or antacid
What are the complications of a gastric ulcer?
Upper GI haemorrhage –> malaena/haematemesis
Perforation –> generalised acute abdo pain, peritonism, shock
What imaging should be performed if gastric ulcer suspected?
CT
Erect CXR
What should be suspected if a patient presents with right lower quadrant pain?
Appendicitis Urinary Tract Complications - Pyelonephritis, nephrolithiasis Ectopic Pregnancy Crohns/UC IBD
What should be suspected if a patient presents with left lower quadrant pain?
Urinary Tract Complications - pyelonephritis, nephrolithisis Ectopic Pregnancy Diverticulitis IBS Crohns/ UC Hernia Ovarian cyst/torsion
What should be suspected if a patient presents with left upper quadrant pain?
Splenic Rupture
Peptic Ulcer
Nephrolithiasis
Gastritis
What should be suspected if a patient presents with suprapubic pain?
Cystitis Acute urinary retention Appendicitis IBD Ovarian Cyst
What does umbilical pain indicate?
Appendicitis SB/LB obstruction IBS IBD Gastroenteritis Ischaemic Colitis AAA
What does left and right lumbar region pain indicate?
Nephrolithiasis
Pyelonephritis
Infectious or ischaemic colitis
What are the signs of appendicitis?
Central pain that radiates to the right
Nausea,vomiting, anorexia, tachycardia, pyrexia, RLQ tenderness, guarding
What is necrotising fascitis?
A rapidly progressive infection of the deep fascia causing necrosis of subcutaneous tissue
What is Type 1 necrotising fascitis?
A polymicrobial infection
What is type 2 necrotising fascitis?
Nec fasc caused by group a haemolytic strep
What is type 3 necrotising fascitis?
NF caused by clostridium (gas gangrene)
What is type 4 necrotising fascitis ?
NF caused by MRSA
What are the signs and symptoms of NF?
Anaesthesia or severe pain that is out of proportion to cellulitis Fever Skin discolouration Sloughing of fascia Swelling Palpitations Tachycardia Tachypnoea Hypotension Lightheadedness Nausea and vomiting
What investigations do you want to do in a suspected NF?
FBC Serum electrolytes (hyponatremia) U&Es (Raised) CRP(Raised) CK (Raised) Lactate (Raised) Tissue and Blood cultures ABG
What scoring system is used to determine NF?
LRINEC
What is the management of NF?
Surgical debridement plus haemodynamic support
- Excisions should extend beyond the area of visible
necrosis
Empirical Antibiotics
- Flucloxacillin, Benzylpenicillin, Gentamycin, Clindamycin
What are cutaneous burns?
A common injury to the skin and superficial tissues caused by heat from hot liquids, flame, or contact with heated objects/electrical current or chemicals
What are thermal burns?
Burns from
- heat, hot liquids, flame or contact with heated objects
What are electrical burns?
Low, intermediate or high voltage exposure
What are chemical burns?
Burns caused by industrial/household chemical products
What are non-accidental burns?
Burns from neglect or abuse (20% of paediatric cases)
What are the presentations of burns?
Erythema Dry and painful/insenate burns Wet and painful burns Cellulitis Blistering
What investigations can be done when a burns patient presents?
FBC
Metabolic panel (increased urea, creatinine, glucose, decreased Na and K)
ABG
Wound biopsy culture, wound histology
What is the management of burns?
Outpatients (smaller burns)
- lukewarm water and plain soap. Topical silver sulfadiazine
Inpatient
- ABCDE
- Assess % of burns
- Initial excision and debridement
- Graft or flap
- Rehab and reconstruction
What formula is used to assess fluid requirements in a patient with burns >15% BSA?
Parkland formula
4 ml of Lactated Ringer’s per kilogram per % BSA over first 24 hours
first half given over first 8 hours
second half given over next 16 hours
How do you assess %BSA?
Rule of nine
Hand width = 1%
What is a Erythema/Superficial burn?
Burn that only effects epidermis
Pain
Blanchable
What is a Superficial-partial thickness burn?
Burn that penetrates the superficial dermis
Pain
Blisters
Blanchable
What is a deep-partial thickness burn?
Burn that penetrates the deep dermis
Pain
NOT BLANCHABLE
Soft
What is a full thickness burn?
Burn that penetrates muscle, bone
Pain
NOT BLANCHABLE
Hard
When is an escharotomy indicated?
When burns are circumferential and deep-partial thickness
What is compartment syndrome?
When tissue pressure exceeds perfusion pressure in a limb comparment.
Increased perfusion = swelling and oedema = increased pressure = micro and macrovascular occlusion = myoneural ischaemia
What is the most common site of ACS?
Lower leg
followed by forearm and then thigh
What is the most common injury that leads to ACS?
Tibial shift fracture
What is the aetiology behind ACS?
Fractures, crush injuries, burns, tight dressing, reperfusion injury, extravasation of IV fluids
How does ACS present?
Pain (most sensitive sign. Pain out of proportion to injury)
Pulselessness (advanced sign. Indicates amputation)
Pallor
Paraesthesia
Swelling, pink discolouration, tense woody compartment on palpitations
How is ACS diagnosed?
Clinical evaluation
X-Ray
Compartment Pressure Monitoring
When is compartment pressure monitoring indicated?
If GCS is decreased, in polytrauma or if clinical evaluation is inconclusive
What is the management of compartment syndrome?
Morphine
Removal of all casts/occlusive or circumfurential dressings
Fasciotomy
What is osteoarthritis?
The loss of cartilage at a joint, resulting in bone remodelling and associated inflammation
What are the risk factors of osteoarthritis?
Obesity, repetitive use, trauma, female sex, age, family history
How does osteoarthritis present?
Pain on use, easing of pain at rest, decreased function, decreased range of motion, swelling, erythema, joint nodules, crepitus, bony swellings
What investigations are done when osteoarthritis is suspected?
Joint examination X-Ray Joint aspiration FBC (normal) CRP and ESR (normal) LFTs and Creatinine (check to see if suitable for NSAID therapy)
How is osteoarthritis managed?
Exercise and weight loss
Cold/Heat therapy
NSAID use (naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac) - topical or oral PRESCRIBE OMEPRAZOLE IF >60
Paracetamol
Topical capsacin
Intra-articular injections (steroids)
Joint replacement therapy
What is septic arthritis ?
Infection of one or more joint caused by pathogenic innoculation of microbes
What organisms cause septic arthritis?
staphylococcus
streptococcus
MRSA
Gonorrhoea
How does septic arthritis spread?
Haematogenous spread to joint
Direct spread to joint
How does septic arthritis present?
Hot, swollen, painful restricted joint
An acute onset
Fever
What are the risk factors for septic arthritis?
Underlying joint disease Prosthetic joint Age Immunosuppresion Tick Exposure Recent joint surgery
What investigations should be done if septic arthritis is suspected?
Synovial fluid microscopy, culture and WCC Blood culture WCC, ESR, CRP U&Es LFTs Plain X-Ray US
What is the treatment for septic arthritis is there is systemic involvement?
Sepsis treatment
- Take blood cultures, lactate and urine output
- Give O2, IV fluids and empirical antibiotics
amoxicillin, metrondiazole and gentamycin
What is the treatment for septic arthritis in a prosthetic joint?
surgery (atherocentesis)
What is the treatment for septic arthritis in an inaccessible native joint?
Ultrasound guided joint aspiration
Antibiotics
Paracetamol, ibuprofen and diclofenac
What is the treatment for septic arthritis in an accessible native joint?
Empirical antibiotics
Paracetamol, ibuprofen and diclofenac
What complications can arise from septic arthritis?
Osteomyelitis
What is a femoral shaft fracture?
A fracture of the femoral shaft
How does a femoral shaft fracture occur?
High energy injuries such as RTAs (often in younger people)
Low impact injuries such as falling from standing or a gunshot (more common in elderly)
What conditions are associated with femoral shaft fracture?
Ipsilateral femoral nexk fractures, tibial shaft fractures, cerebral haemorrhage or thoracic injuries
What is the incidence of femoral shaft fracture?
37/100,000
What are the fracture patterns of a femoral shaft patterns ?
Transverse (pure bending)
Spiral (rotational)
Oblique (uneven bending)
Comminuted (high speed crash)
What is the presentation of a femoral shaft patterns?
Pain in thigh
Tense and swollen thigh
Shortened thigh
How do you initially manage a femoral shaft fracture ?
ABCDE
Advanced Trauma Life Support
How much blood loss can occur in a femoral shaft fracture?
1000-1500ml
What imaging should be done in a femoral shaft fracture?
Radiographs
CT
What investigations should be done in a femoral shaft fracture?
ESR CRP Lactate FBC Urine output
How should a femoral shaft fracture be managed?
Anterograde/retrograde intramedullary nails
External fixation
Long limb cast
Abx if wound was open
What are the complications of a femoral shaft fracture
?
Pudendal nerve injury Femoral artery/nerve injury Malunion Rotational malalignment Infection
Name some causes of raised ICP?
Localised mass lesions Neoplasm Abscess Focal Oedema secondary to trauma Diffuse Oedema Obstructive hydrocephalus
How does raised ICP present?
Headache
- can be nocturnal, when waking, worse on coughing
Papilloedema
Vomiting
Changes in mental state
Syncope
What investigations can be done if raised ICP is suspected?
CT
MRI
Blood glucose, renal function, electrolytes, ICP monitoring
How should raised ICP be managed?
CSF drainage
Head of bed elevation
Analgesia and sedation
Mannitol or hypertonic saline
What is a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Bleeding into the subarachnoid space
What is the aetiology behind a SAH?
Rupture of intracranial saccular aneurysm
AV malformations, arterial dissections, anti-coag use
What is the incidence of SAH?
6-8 in 100,000 people experience a SAH
What are the risk factors of SAH?
Hypertension, smoking, family history, ADPKD
What is the presentation of SAH?
Thunderclap headache Decrease in consciousness Neck stiffness and muscle aches Photophobia Nausea and vomiting
What investigations should be performed if SAH is suspected?
CT Head
FBC, U&Es, Clotting Profile, Troponin, Serum Glucose, ECG
What is the management for SAH?
ABCDE (including GCS)
If GCS <8 and Falling
- IV Fluids, nimodipine, surgery and continuous ECG
If GCS >8
- IV fluids, nimodipine, analgesia, surgery
What surgery is performed for a SAH?
Endovascular coiling or clipping
What are the complications involved with SAH?
Death
Cognitive Impairment
Reoccurrence
Chronic hydrocephalus
What is a subdural haematoma?
Collection of blood between dura and arachnoid mater
How does herniation occur in subdural haematoma?
Increasing volumes of blood = compression of brain parenchyma = herniation
What is the incidence of Subdural Haematoma?
50-60% of all intracranial haematomas
What is the aetiology behind Subdural Haematoma?
Trauma (torsional or shearing forces) = disruption of cortical veins = bleeding = haematoma
What is the presentation of a Subdural Haematoma?
Evidence of trauma Headache, nausea, vomiting Decrease GCS and consciouness Confusion Seizure Incontinence Weakness Speech and vision change
What investigations should be done for a Subdural Haematoma?
CT head
FBC, clotting profile
What is the management for a Subdural Haematoma?
ABCDE including GCS
Trauma craniotomy
Prophylactic anti-epileptics (phenytoin)
Monitoring
What are the indications for a trauma craniotomy?
Haematoma >10mm
Midline shift >5mm
GCS >9
ICP >20mmHg
What are the complications of a Subdural Haematoma?
Neurological deficit Coma Death Stroke Epilepsy Infection at surgical site
What is a AAA?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a permanent pathological dilation of the aorta with a diameter of
>3cm
What is the epidemiology behind a AAA?
Incidence is higher M>F
Rupture is higher F>M
Most arise below renal artery level
What are the risk factors for a AAA?
Smoking, FH, age, congenital connective tissue disorders
How does AAA present?
Usually asymptomatic
Can present with abdo/back pain and a palpable abdo mass
How does a ruptured AAA present?
Severe and sudden Abdo and back pain
Syncope/shock and collapse
What investigations should be done if a AAA is suspected?
Abdominal US
CT
MRI