Clinical Presentation of GI Flashcards
what’s retching
forced inspiration against closed mouth and glottis (dry heaves). Muscular activity of abdomen and thorax, often voluntary.
what’s vomiting
involuntary contractions of abdominal, thoracic & GI (smooth) muscles leads to forceful expulsion of stomach contents
what’s the differences and similarities btwn vomiting and regurgitation
vomiting is forceful, and can be assoc w/ nausea
regurgitation is effortless return of esophageal or gastric contents into the mouth but isn’t assoc w/ nausea or involuntary muscle contractions.
where are the 3 main neurological pathways located for vomiting?
- medulla
- spinal cord
- GI tract
what population is psychogenic vomiting most commonly seen in? what might it also co-exist with?
young females (but rarely occurs in public & minimum or no nausea) may co-exist w/ eating disorders, laxatives or diuretic abuse; also psychological disturbances common
what’s surreptitous vomiting?
signs and symptoms of vomiting (like electrolyte disturbances, unexplained weight loss, etc) but no history of vomiting.
what’s the signs of nutritional complications of vomiting in adults vs kids?
adults: weight loss
kids: failure to thrive
what are mallory weiss tears and what are they associated with?
what could it eventually lead to?
painful and/or bleeding tears at the GE junction assoc with vomiting.
It could lead to perforation leading to Boorhaave’s syndrome where contents leaks out
what renal complications can occur with vomiting?
prerenal azotemia, ATN or hypokalemic nephropathy
what are electrolyte and acid-base disorders assoc w/ vomiting?
Explain why each occur
Metabolic alkalosis due to bicarb retention and volume contraction
Hypokalemia: loss of K (renally and GI) and decreased K intake
Hypochloremia: due to gastric chloride losses
Hyponatremia: due to free water retention from volume contraction
what’s the difference btwn dysphagia and odynophagia?
Dysphagia: difficulty swallowing, the sensation of food being hindered in its norm passage
Odynophagia: painful swallowing
what are the 3 different types of dysphagia pathology
- Extrinsic dysphagia
- Intrinsic dysphagia - due to the wall
- Intrinsic dysphagia - due to inside the lumen
what are the 2 major categories of dysphagia
esophageal and oro-pharygeal dysphagia
what type of fibers is most nocipetion from abdominal viscera being conveyed by?
describe this pain?
what are they mainly sensitive to?
C fibers
pain: dull, burning, poorly localized
they’re sensitive to stretch (cutting, tearing or crushing viscera doesn’t result in pain)
abdominal visceral nociceptors are responsive to stretch and also various chemical stimuli. Where do these chemical stimuli come from?
substances released in response to local mechanical injury, inflammation, tissue ischemia and necrosis and noxious thermal or radiation injury
what’s the major differences betwn somatoparietal pain and visceral pain?
What can aggravate it?
somatoparietal pain is more intense and more localized
Movement or coughing can aggravate this pain
In acute appendicitis, describe the visceral and somatoparietal pain.
Visceral pain: periumbilical pain
Somatoparietal pain: RLQ McBurney’s pt pain (inflammatory involvement of the parietal peritoneum)
what 3 factors do you want to ask your patient about in regards to their pain?
- Chronology (acute vs chronic)
- constancy (constant vs intermittent)
- Severity (increasing vs decreasing)
where can GB pain refer to?
back and shoulder/scapula
is WBC useful for appendicitis?
no
what’s the definition of unitentional weight loss
weight loss of 5 kg or more than 5% of usual weight over 6-12 months (assoc w/ increased mortality)