ACUTE ABDOMEN Flashcards
What is the scoring system used for appendicitis?
Alvarado score
Which medications is it important to give prior to surgery for appendicitis?
IV metronidazole and IV cefuroxime
What key differential for appendicitis should you always mention?
Meckels diverticulum
What are the 3 main types of bowel ischaemia?
- Acute mesenteric ischaemia
- chronic mesenteric ischaemia
- ischaemic colitis
What are the anatomical landmarks of the foregut, midgut and hindgut?
- foregut- distal oesophagus to ampulla of vator
- ampulla of vator to 2/3 along transverse colon
- 2/3 transverse colon to rectum
What is the supply to the foregut, midgut and hindgut?
- foregut- coeliac trunk
- midgut- superior mesenteric artery
- hindgut- inferior mesenteric artery
What is the gold standard for diagnosing acute mesenteric ischaemia?
Angiography
What is the triad of acute mesenteric ischaemia?
- Gut emptying
- Cardiac disease
- Acute abdo pain
What are the two common medical options for acute mesenteric ischaemia?
- thrombolytics via an angiogram catheter
- heparin for mesenteric venous thromboembolism
Chronic mesenteric ischaemia is often referred to as bowel angina. Name 3 options for surgical management of CMI
- Transaortic endarterectomy of the coeliac or superior mesenteric artery
- bypass grafting
- angiography and stenting
What is the definition of ischaemic colitis?
Caused by compromise of the blood supply to the colon, most commonly affecting the splenic flexure
What is the most common cause of ischaemic colitis?
Atheroma of the mesenteric arteries
Is ischaemic colitis often managed medically or surgically?
Medically, except in cases of necrosis
Bowel obstruction can be broadly differentiated into what two classifications?
- Static BO occurs due to a failure of peristalsis
- Dynamic occurs due a failure of passage
What anatomical marking can be seen on the small bowel? Does it traverse the entirety of the bowel?
Valvulae conniventes
Yes
What anatomical markings can be seen on the large bowel?
Do they traverse the entire distance?
- Haustra
- No
The causes of mechanical obstruction can be divided into what?
- Extraluminal
- Transmural
- Intraluminal
Give two causes of
- intraluminal
- transmural
- extraluminal
mechanical obstruction
- intraluminal
- foreign body
- faecal impaction
- transmural
- neoplasm
- stricture
- fistula
- extraluminal
- adhesion
- neoplasm
- pregnancy
- hernia
- volvulus
Give 3 common causes of small bowel obstruction
- adhesions
- hernias
- strictures
- foreign bodies
Give 3 common causes of large bowel obstruction
- neoplasm
- stricture
- faecal impaction
- sigmoid or caecal volvulus
What is a closed loop bowel obstruction and why is it dangerous?
Closed loop bowel obstructions occur where the ileo-caecal valve remains competent, therefore there can be no decompressionof bowel contents into the small bowel, This is more dangerous as it is more likely to perforate
Give 3 causes of a paralytic ileus
- post-op
- peritonitis
- trauma
- other acute abnormalities
What are the 4 cardinal features of intestinal obstruction?
- vomiting (may be faecalent)
- colicky pain, this is usually diffuse and central. In paralytic ileus pain is usually absent
- complete constipation
- distension
What is the classic ward based management of bowel obstruction?
- Ng tube insertion for decompression
- Copious IV fluids
In acquired diverticulosis the lack of collagen weakens the (1), meaning that there are small herniations of (2) through the (3). This is typically adjacent to (4) and (5)
- muscularis propria
- mucosa
- muscularis
- terminal artial branches
- taenia coli
WHat 3 imaging studies should be acquired in suspected diverticulitis?
- erect CXR
- axr
- Contrast enhanced CT
What is the primary management option for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis? (3 components)
- IV broad spec ABx (co-amoxiclav)
- NBM
- Analgesia
Why is Hartmann’s generally preferred in cases of diverticulitis induced perforation?
Colostomy reversal
What is the defintion of a hernia?
- protrusion of a viscus through its containing wall into an abnormal position