Case 3- HPB Flashcards
Cholecystitis features
RUQ pain
Fever
Murphy’s sign
Nausea and vomiting
General malaise
Right shoulder pain
Ascending cholangitis features
Charcot’s triad- RUQ pain, fever, jaundice
Reynold’s Pentad- RUQ pain, fever, jaundice, hypotension, altered mental status
NB- cholangitis is jaundice, cholecystitis isn’t
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Damage to the medium and large bile ducts
Associated with IBD
Causes cholestasis- itching/pain/fatigue/weight loss/jaundice
Primary biliary cholangitis
Small bile ducts are affected
Associated with women/autoimmunity/sicca syndrome
Causes cholestasis- itching/pain/fatigue/weight loss/jaundice
Stepwise progression of ALD
Alcohol related fatty liver
Alcoholic hepatitis
Cirrhosis (irreversible)
Investigations for ALD
Bed side- observations, abdominal examination
Bloods- LFT FBC (anaemia- raised MCV) UE alphafetoprotein albumin clotting screen gamma GT viral serology (drinkers may be at more risk)
Imaging and specialist- Liver ultrasound, fibroscan- elastography, Biopsy, endoscopy (varices), CT/MRI (HCC)
Wernickes encepahlopathy triad
Confusion
Oculomotor disturbance
Ataxia (co-ordinated movements)
Korsakoff’s syndrome
Memory impairment- confabulation
Behavioural changes
Causes of liver failure
Acute- paracetamol overdose, alcohol
Chronic- viral hepatitis, yellow fever, alcohol, fatty liver disease, PBS, PSC, hemochromatosis, malignancy
Cirrhosis management
Alcohol abstinence
Ultrasound and alpha alphafetoprotein every 6 months
Endoscopy every 3 years (varices)
High protein low sodium diet
UKLED score every 6 months (assess transplant need)
Management of specific complications
Investigations for suspected pancreatic cancer
LFT, FBC, UE, calcium (metastatic cancer)
Ca19-9 tumour marker
CT abdomen (double duct sign)- investigation of choice
Pre-hepatic jaundice stool and urine
Normal stools
Normal urine
Hepatic jaundice stool and urine
Dark urine
Normal (pale) stools
Post-hepatic jaundice stool and urine
Dark urine
Pale stools (acholic)
Management of alcoholic liver disease
All investigations listed previously
Encourage to stop drinking alcohol- help from a detox regime
Nutritional support (esp. thiamine (B1) and protein)
Features of liver cirrhosis
Jaundice – caused by raised bilirubin
Hepatomegaly – however the liver can shrink as it becomes more cirrhotic
Splenomegaly – due to portal hypertension
Spider Naevi – these are telangiectasia with a central arteriole and small vessels radiating away
Palmar Erythema – caused by hyperdynamic cirulation
Gynaecomastia and testicular atrophy in males due to endocrine dysfunction
Bruising – due to abnormal clotting
Ascites
Caput Medusae – distended paraumbilical veins due to portal hypertension
Asterixis – “flapping tremor” in decompensated liver disease
Atrophic testes
Cirrhosis investigations
Bed side- observations, abdominal examination, ascetic tap (if relevant)
Bloods- LFT FBC UE alphafetoprotein viral serology (viral hepatitis) albumin clotting screen autoantibodies
Imaging and specialist- Liver ultrasound, fibroscan- elastography, Biopsy, endoscopy (varices), CT/MRI (HCC)
NB- Thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150,000 mm^3) is the most sensitive and specific lab finding for diagnosis of liver cirrhosis in those with chronic liver disease
Pancreatitis investigations
LFT FBC Lipase (longer half life than amylase) CRP haematocrit Ca (hypercalcaemia can cause it)
CXR exclude others causes
USS abdomen (gallstones?) or CT scan (goldstandard for chornic)(can do X-RAY- pancreatic calcification)
ERCP or MRCP
NB- a diagnosis can be made based on clinical findings and a lipase/amylase 3x normal level, but early USS is important to assess aetiology
Pancreatitis differentials
PUD, perforated viscous, oesophageal spasm, intestinal obstruction, AAA, cholangitis, cholecystitis, MI
Pancreatic cancer tumour marker
CA 19-9
Cholecystitis vs cholelithiasis/ biliary colic
Cholelithiasis causes biliary colic- repeated attacks of abdominal pain (often after a heavy meal- not necessarily fatty)
Cholecystitis- more acute illness. Inflamed gallbladder (usually due to stones) causes nausea, vomiting, pain and fever
Biliary colic/cholecystitis/cholangitis investigations
Bedside- observations, abdominal examination, urine dip (exclude UTI)
Bloods- FBC (WCC), UE (loss of appetite), LFT, CRP (inflammation- cholangitis), Calcium (can cause abdo pain), Lipid profile (increases chance of stones), cultures from 2 sites (if concerned about cholangitis) , Lipase/ amylase- rule out pancreatitis
Imaging- Abdominal ultrasound (look for stones), MRCP
Liver failure
Development of coagulopathy and encephalopathy (better to monitor PT time as it has a shorter half life than albumin)
In previously healthy person- acute
On background of cirrhosis- chronic
Fulminant- resulting from massive necrosis of liver cells
Liver failure symptoms
Jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, fetor hepaticus, asterixis and apraxia
NB- cirrhosis would have all tell tale signs of liver disease (hepatomegaly, ascites, but difference with liver failure is that you get encephalopathy and deranged clotting)