CCP 217 Gastrointestinal Emergencies Flashcards
most common causes of acute pancreatitis
- gallstones (pancreatic ductal obstruction)
2. chronic alcohol consumption
pathophysiologic pathway of acute pancreatitis
π΅π΅π΅π΅ MONEY SLIDE π΅π΅π΅π΅
- initial inciting event (eg biliary obstruction d/t stone)
- Cellular injury triggers the inappropriate activation of digestive enzymes β autodigestion of pancreatic tissue β stimulation of an inflammatory cascade
- inflammatory cytokines cause increased vascular permeability β edema, hemorrhage, and/or necrosis
- SIRS response promotes translocation of intestinal bacteria β sepsis and septic shock
- septic shock β further complications including pleural effusion, ARDS, AKI, MODS, death
two different types of pancreatitis
- interstitial edematous pancreatitis
2. necrotizing pancreatitis
pancreatic enzymes
- amylase (more sensitive for pancreatic disease)
2. lipase (more specific for pancreatic disease)
mild pancreatitis definition
- No organ failure
2. No local or systemic complications
moderate pancreatitis definition
- Transient organ failure (<48 h)
2. Local or systemic complications
severe pancreatitis definition
- Persistent organ failure (>48 h)
acute pancreatitis definition
- Acute inflammatory process of the pancreas
2. pancreas is a retroperitoneal organ with endocrine and exocrine function
Cullenβs sign (define + explain)
- Ecchymosis/discoloration around the umbilicus due to hemoperitoneum
- the sign been associated with a broad range of clinical conditions, notably Hemorrhagic pancreatitis and ruptured ectopic pregnancy
- LATE SIGN. typically takes 3-5 days for sign to present
Grey Turnerβs sign (define + describe)
- reddish-brown discolouration around the flanks due to retroperitoneal bleeding
- Classically, it correlates with severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis, often in association with Cullenβs sign (periumbilical ecchymosis)
- may also be present in other conditions that result in intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal hemorrhage
- when Grey Turnerβs sign is present in the absence of known direct trauma to the flank, for example, a patient presenting with non-traumatic abdominal pain, it appears to be a marker of severe illness with a potentially high mortality rate (30-40%)
- LATE SIGN, >24hrs post bleed
acute pancreatitis treatment algorithm
π΅π΅π΅π΅ MONEY SLIDE π΅π΅π΅π΅
βlimit the severity of pancreatic inflammation and provide supportive careβ
- IV fluid resuscitation (plasma-lyte or LR)
- correction of electrolyte and metabolic abnormalities
- Antiemetics
- Analgesia
- Vasopressor support for shock
- Nutritional support (enteral nutrition or NG feeds)
- Antibiotics (infected necrotizing pancreatitis or extrapancreatic infections)
- Management of complications (eg. EtOH withdrawal, infection, ARDS, shock)
Biliary causes of RUQ pain
- Biliary colic
- Acute cholecystitis
- Acute cholangitis
Hepatic causes of RUQ pain
- Acute hepatitis
- Liver abscess
- Portal vein thrombosis
Splenic causes of LUQ pain
- Splenomegaly
- Splenic infarct
- Splenic abscess
- Splenic rupture
Differentials for lower abdominal pain
- Appendicitis (RLQ)
- Diverticulitis
- Pyelonephritis
- Acute urinary retention (suprapubic)
- Cystitis (suprapubic)
- Infectious colitis
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and Abdominal Sepsis Clinical Presentation
- Fever
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Altered mental status
- Diarrhea or Ileus
- Ascites
- renal failure
define toxic megacolon (toxic colitis)
- clinical term for an acute toxic colitis with dilatation of the colon
- defined as non-obstructive colonic dilatation larger than 6 cm and signs of systemic toxicity (fever, tachycardia, leukocytosis, AMS, shock)
- this is a rare complication of severe inflammatory bowel disease that occurs in approximately 1% of patients
most common presenting symptom for toxic megacolon
- Severe bloody diarrhea
most serious complication of toxic megacolon
- colonic perforation leading to abdominal sepsis
treatment pathway for toxic megacolon
primarily supportive therapy
- ICU monitoring
- fluid resuscitation
- correction of electrolyte and metabolic derangements,
- broad-spectrum ABX
- steroids
- complete bowel rest
- surgical consult for colonic perf, necrosis, full-thickness ischemia, intra-abdominal HTN, ACS, peritonitis
classic case physical exam signs of cirrhosis
π₯π₯π₯MEGA PEARLπ₯π₯π₯
- gynecomastia
- spider angiomata
- muscle wasting
- ascites
- palmar erythema
- Jaundice
- peripheral edema
clinical progression of alcoholic-related liver disease
- Steatosis (alcohol-associated fatty liver)
- Fibrosis
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
define Cirrhosis
- end-stage chronic liver disease
- characterized by the destruction of hepatocytes and replacement of normal hepatic architecture with fibrotic tissue and regenerative nodules
liver enzymes
- alanine aminotransferase [ALT]
- aspartate aminotransferase [AST]
- alkaline phosphatase [ALP]
- gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase [GGT]
liver function tests
MUST KNOW + EXPLAIN PATHO
- serum albumin
- prothrombin time
- INR
- serum bilirubin level
classic case presentation for severe acute pancreatitis
- Severe epigastric pain that radiates to the back
2. nausea/vomiting
diagnosis of acute pancreatitis requires 2 out of 3 of these criteria
βAtlanta criteriaβ
- βClassicβ mid-epigastric abdominal pain
- Serum lipase or amylase >3x normal
- Confirmatory imaging findings (CT, MRI, or US)
pathophysiology of pancreatitis secondary to pancreatic gallstone
π΅π΅π΅π΅ MONEY SLIDE π΅π΅π΅π΅
- gallstones cause pancreatic ductal obstruction
- obstruction increases intra-pancreatic duct pressure β acid reflux into the pancreas β trypsin activation β autodigestion of pancreatic tissue
pathophysiology of pancreatitis secondary to alcohol
π΅π΅π΅π΅ MONEY SLIDE π΅π΅π΅π΅
- ethyl alcohol sensitizes pancreatic cells to cholecystokinin β increased trypsin production
- trypsin activation β autodigestion of pancreatic tissue
cholangitis definition
inflammation of the bile duct system
choledocholithiasis definition
presence of gallstones within the common bile duct
Cholelithiasis definition
The presence of stones in the gallbladder
Amylase vs Lipase sensitivity and specificity for acute pancreatitis
^ must know
Lipase has higher sensitivity and specificity
- Lipase at 3 times the upper limit of normal is 100% sensitive and 99% specific for acute pancreatitis
- Amylase may be elevated in acute pancreatitis but is less sensitive (81%) and specific than lipase. Amylase may also be falsely negative
Cholecystectomy definition
surgical removal of the gallbladder
define acute liver failure (aka fulminant hepatic failure, acute hepatic necrosis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, or fulminant hepatitis)
- Severe acute liver injury with encephalopathy and impaired clotting function (INR β₯1.5) in a patient without underlying cirrhosis or prior liver disease
- diagnosed when there is evidence of acute hepatitis with coagulation abnormality (INR β₯1.5) and any degree of encephalopathy in a patient without pre-existing cirrhosis and an illness course <26 weeks in duration
off label use for N-acetylcysteine
π΅π΅π΅π΅ MONEY SLIDE π΅π΅π΅π΅
- may be beneficial in any patient with early, non-acetaminophen-related acute liver failure
- prospective, double-blind trial of patients with acute liver failure not due to acetaminophen toxicity demonstrated improved transplant-free survival in patients with acute liver failure treated with IV N-acetylcysteine
acute liver failure treatment pathway
π΅π΅π΅π΅ MONEY SLIDE π΅π΅π΅π΅
- IV fluid resuscitation
- correction of electrolyte and metabolic abnormalities (hypoglycaemia)
- Vasopressor support for shock (norepinephrine)
- Corticosteroids for refractory shock (hydrocortisone)
- Consider administration of N-acetylcysteine
- Management of complications (eg. elevated ICP secondary to hepatic encephalopathy, GIB secondary to hepatic coagulopathy)
- broad-spectrum ABX for signs of infection
most common causes of acute liver failure in adults
- acetaminophen overdose (40%)
- indeterminate (17%)
- idiosyncratic drug reactions (13%)
- hepatitis B virus (6%)
- ischemic hepatitis (6%)
- hepatitis A virus (4%)
- autoimmune hepatitis (4%)
- Wilson disease (3%)
- BuddβChiari syndrome (2%)
- pregnancy (2%)
- malignancy (1%)
hepatic encephalopathy grading correlated to asterixis
- Grade I: mild asterixis
- Grade II/III: pronounced asterixis
- Grade IV: asterixis is often absent (may exhibit posturing)
asterixis definition
- sudden loss of muscle tone during sustained contraction of an outstretched limb
- associated with a silent period on EMG
- referred to as βnegative myoclonusβ
- irregular flexionβextension movements at the metacarpophalangeal and wrist joints, which increase during a sustained posture
expected lab abnormalities in the patient with acute liver failure
π΅π΅π΅π΅ MONEY SLIDE π΅π΅π΅π΅
- Elevated AST/ALT/ALP/GGT/bilirubin
- Anemia
- Elevated serum creatinine and BUN
- Elevated amylase/lipase
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypophosphatemia
- Hypomagnesemia
- Hypokalemia
- Acidemia or alkalemia
- Elevated ammonia
- Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
cirrhosis definition
- late stage of progressive hepatic fibrosis
- characterized by distortion of the hepatic architecture and the formation of regenerative nodules
- irreversible in advanced stages
- only treatment option is liver transplantation
most common causes of cirrhosis
- Alcohol (60-70%)
- Chronic viral hepatitis (B or C, 10%)
- Non-alcoholic liver disease (10%)
- Biliary obstruction (5-10%)
- Hemochromatosis (5-10%)
Cirrhosis pathophysiology
- fibrosis of hepatic tissue β elevated Portal pressures due to decreased hepatic venous drainage
- decreased hepatic venous drainage β splenomegaly and splanchnic vasodilation
- splenomegaly β anemia, hypoalbuminemia, thrombocytopenia, and ascites
- splanchnic vasodilation β increased splanchnic blood flow, further elevated portal pressures
- feedback loop ensues β decreased blood volume and hypotension/shock/death
major complications of cirrhosis
π΅π΅π΅π΅ MONEY SLIDE π΅π΅π΅π΅
- variceal hemorrhage
- ascites
- bacterial peritonitis
- hepatic encephalopathy
- hepatorenal syndrome
- hepatopulmonary syndrome
leading causes of mortality in patients with cirrhosis
- Urinary tract infections
- bacterial peritonitis
- C. difficile colitis
signs of chronic liver disease
- caput medusae (network of painless, swollen veins around your bellybutton)
- ascites
- fetor hepaticus
- gynecomastia
- hepatomegaly
- splenomegaly
- jaundice/scleral icterus
- muscular atrophy
- palmar erythema
- testicular atrophy
- spider angiomas
- nail changes (splinter haemorrhages)
- parotid gland enlargement
biliary tree anatomical/physiological pathway
- biliary tree is a series of GI ducts allowing newly formed bile from the liver to be concentrated and stored in the gallbladder prior to release into the duodenum
- Bile is secreted from hepatocytes and drains from both lobes of the liver via intralobular ducts and collecting ducts into the left and right hepatic ducts
- left and right hepatic ducts join to form the common hepatic duct, which runs alongside the hepatic vein
- common hepatic duct descends and is joined by the cystic duct which regulates bile flow in and out of the gallbladder for storage and release
- the common hepatic duct and cystic duct combine to form the common bile duct
- common bile duct descends and passes posteriorly to the duodenum and head of pancreas
- common bile duct now joined by main pancreatic duct, forming the hepatopancreatic ampulla (ampulla of Vater) β which then empties into the duodenum via the major duodenal papilla
- major duodenal papilla is regulated by a muscular valve, the sphincter of Oddi
Charcotβs cholangitis triad
clinical finding in ascending cholangitis (an infection of the bile duct in the liver)
- jaundice
- fever (usually with rigors)
- right upper quadrant abdominal pain
Murphyβs sign
acute cholescystitis
- ask the patient to take in and hold a deep breath while palpating the right subcostal area
- If pain occurs on inspiration, when the inflamed gallbladder comes into contact with the examinerβs hand, Murphyβs sign is positive
Acute cholangitis treatment pathway
- patient NPO
- administer IV fluids
- analgesics
- Empiric IV antibiotics
- GI consult
Acute cholecystitis treatment pathway
- patient NPO
- administer IV fluids
- analgesics
- Empiric IV antibiotics
- Surgical consult
Biliary colic pathophysiologic pathway
impacted stone or sludge in the cystic duct or the ampulla of Vater β distension and contraction of the gallbladder or biliary tract β an intermittent increase in pressure and pain
Gallstone formation (Cholesterol stones) pathophysiologic pathway
The most common type of stone in Western society (80%-90%)
- imbalance in biliary cholesterol homeostasis β cholesterol crystallization
- Formation is promoted by hepatic hypersecretion, gallbladder hypomotility, and genetic predisposition
Gallstone formation (pigment stones) pathophysiologic pathway
- Abnormal bilirubin metabolism with excess unconjugated bilirubin
- Includes black (uninfected) and brown (infected) stones
Acute cholangitis pathophysiologic pathway
- biliary tree is normally a sterile environment due to the continuous flow of bile and the immunologic response of the biliary epithelial cells
- when an obstruction leads to increased bile duct pressure and the breakdown of these defenses pathology occurs
- Bacteria enter the biliary system primarily by ascending from the duodenum into the extrahepatic ducts
- The portal venous system and the periportal lymphatic system are also potential routes of entry
- E. coli, Klebsiella, and Enterococcus are the most common bugs in patients with acute cholangitis