Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding Flashcards
Define upper GI bleeding.
Bleeding from oesophagus, stomach or duodenum
Proximal to ligament of Trietz
Define lower GI bleeding.
Bleeding distal to the duodenum.
Distal to ligament of Trietz.
What is the presentation for upper GI bleeding?
Haematemesis (vomiting fresh blood)
Melaena (black stool)
Elevated urea
Dyspepsia, reflux, epigastric pain
Which drug can cause upper GI bleeding?
NSAID
What is the presentation of lower GI bleeding?
Fresh bloods/clots in stool
Magenta stool
Normal urea
Usually painless
What are peptic ulcers caused by?
Imbalance of natural defences of stomach which can be worsened by the presence of additional factors like peptic enzymes which can digest proteins in the stomach lining.
How does the stomach usually protect itself from peptic enzymes?
Secretion of mucous which is alkaline which can neutralize the peptic acid.
List some factors which increases an individual’s risks of peptic ulceration.
H.pylori infection
Smoking
Alcohol
Medication
Ischaemia
Shock
What can peptic ulceration cause to happen?
Fibrosis and granulation tissue which can increase chances of gastric carcinoma/lymphoma.
Which type of peptic ulcers are more common- gastric or duodenal?
Duodenal
What are the risk factors for a duodenal ulcer?
H.pylori infection
NSAIDs/Aspirin
Also alcohol excess or stress ulcers
How do H.pylori bacteria cause ulceration?
-H.pylori penetrates mucous layer and adheres to epithelium.
-They produce urease which converts urea to ammonia.
-Ammonia acts as a buffer against gastric acid.
-Proliferation of H.pylori
-Ulcer production due to high acid secretion, loss of mucous, epithelial damage and inflammatory cell recruitment.
Name two common NSAIDs
~(NSAIDs a common cause of peptic ulceration).
Ibuprofen
Diclofenac
How do NSAIDs cause peptic ulceration?
Inhibit pathways, mainly COX-1, reducing mucous secretion leading to more damage
As gastric ulcers increase risk of gastric carcinoma, what should be done in those with gastric ulcers?
Repeat endoscopy after 8 weeks.
Ulcer may be sitting over a carcinoma.
Which syndrome causes poor healing of gastric ulcers?
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome- (gastrin secreting pancreatic tumour)
What are the causes of gastritis and duodenitis?
Tend to bleed to causes of impaired coagulation:
-Medical conditions
-Anti-coagulants
-Anti-platelets
RECAP- name some anti-coagulants
Warfarin
Rivaroxaban
Apixaban
RECAP- name some anti-platelets
Clopidogrel
Ticagrelor
What may cause bleeding of the oesophagus due to oesophagitis?
-Oesophageal reflux
-Alcohol
-Hiatus hernia
-Systemic illness
-Bisphosphates
What causes an enlarged spleen?
Portal hypertension
What causes varices?
Portal hypertension due o liver cirrhosis
What are varices?
Abnormally dilated collateral vessels
->usually a blockage type thing so blood cannot go through liver so has to find alterative paths causing vessels to swell and expand.
What is the typical presentation of oesophageal cancer?
Dysphagia/weight loss history
What can gastric cancer present as?
Gastric ulcer
What is a Mallory-Weiss tear?
Linear tear at oesophageal-gastric junction following a period or retching or vomiting
Diuelafoy is another cause of upper GI bleeding. Describe what it is.
Submucosal arterial vessel erodes through the mucosa, often into the gastric fundus.
Angiodysplasia is another cause of upper GI bleeding. Describe what it is.
Vascular malformations which can occur anywhere in the GI tract.
Can cause frequent occult or occult bleeding.
Which conditions are angiodysplasia commonly associated with?
Heart valve replacement
What may be a cause of lower GI bleeding if there is fresh blood passed upon straining but is painless?
Haemorrhoids