Abdominal Prep Flashcards
What are the 6 red flags associated with dysphagia?
- progressive dysphagia
- anaemia (unexplained)
- weight loss
- anorexia
- malaena/haematemesis
- aged over 55 years
What are the differentials for someone presenting with dysphagia?
- stroke
- myasthenia gravis
- motor neurone disease
- oesophageal cancer
- benign oesophageal stricture
- oesophageal web
- achalasia
- oesophageal spasm
- systemic sclerosis
What are the 6 red flags associated with haematemesis?
- Dysphagia
- Anaemia (unexplained)
- Weight loss
- Anorexia
- Aged over 55 years
- Jaundice
What are the differentials for someone presenting with haematemesis?
- oesophagitis
- gastric/duodenal erosion
- bleeding peptic ulcer
- oesophageal varices
- upper GI malignancy
- mallory-weiss tear
- iatrogenic
- arteriovenous malformations
- boerhaaves syndrome
- aorto-enteric fistula
What are the 4 red flags associated with a change in bowel habit?
- anaemia (unexplained)
- unexplained weight loss
- aged over 60
- rectal bleeding
What are the differentials for someone presenting with change in bowel habit?
- colorectal cancer
- inflammatory bowel disease
- irritable bowel syndrome
- gastroenteritis
- diverticular disease
- malabsorption
What are the 6 red flags associated with jaundice?
- confusion
- haematemesis
- fever
- bruising/purpura
- painless jaundice
- unexplained weight loss
What are the differentials for someone presenting with jaundice?
- gilberts syndrome
- malaria
- haemolysis
- hepatitis
- hepatocellular disease
- metastatic disease
- pancreatic carcinoma
- gallstones
- primary biliary cholangitis
- primary sclerosing cholangitis
What are the (i) investigations and (ii) management in a patient with suspected gastroenteritis?
(i) sometimes diagnosed on symptoms alone
Stool cultures, FBC (raised WCC, decreased Hb and platelets), U+Es (raised urea+creatinine, low K+)
(ii) maintain oral hydration
for severe symptoms (not dysentry) = anti-emetics (metclopramide, ondansetron)
Antibiotics only indicated if systemically unwell, immunosuppressed or elderly
What tests are performed in suspected alcoholic liver disease?
Serum AST/ALT = elevated Serum AST/ALT ratio = elevated Serum ALP = normal/elevated Serum bilirubin = elevated Serum albumin/protein = low, INR raised Serum GGT = elevated FBC = macrocytic anaemia, leucocytosis Hepatic USS = splenomegaly and hepatomegaly
How is alcoholic liver disease managed?
- Alcohol abstinence - manage alcohol withdrawal with oxazepam PO (1st line) or lorazepam IM
- Nutritional support and multivitamins e.g. thiamine, Vit K, B vitamins. BUT be aware of re-feeding syndrome
What are the investigations performed in suspected cirrhosis?
BLOODS - LFT: raised bilirubin, raised AST, ALK, AST, GGT and raised INR. Low albumin and WCC
FIND CAUSE - ferritin, TIBC, hep.serology, immunoglobulins, autoantibodies, AFP, alpha-1-antitrypsin
Liver USS, MRI, Ascitic tap, liver biopsy
How do you manage a patient with cirrhosis?
GENERAL = nutrition, stop alcohol, avoid NSAIDs, sedatives and opiates. Colestyramine helps with pruritus.
SPECIFIC:
hep induced cirrhosis = ursodeoxycholic acid
Ascites = bed rest, fluid restrict, low salt diet, spironolactone
SBP = cefotaxime or tazocin or metronidazole
Vit K for any coagulopathy
What are the (i) investigations (ii) management for patients with oesophageal cancer?
(i) oesophagoscopy with biopsy is 1st-line
CT/MRI for staging
(ii) pre-op chemo, then surgery. If not then paliative chemoradiotherapy
What are the (i) investigations (ii) management for patients with achalasia?
(i) CXR - fluid level in dilated oesophagus
Barium swallow - Dilated tapering oesophagus
(ii) endoscopic balloon dilatation then PPIs
Botulinum toxin injection if non invasive
Ca channel blocker and nitrates may also relax sphincter