Deja - Internal - Gastroenterology Flashcards
What are the causes of oropharyngeal dysphagia?
- Neurologic disorders (muscular, cranial nerve diseases).
- Zenker diverticulum.
- Thyromegaly.
- Sphincter dysfunction.
- Oropharyngeal cancers.
What are the signs and symptoms of Zenker diverticulum?
- Halitosis.
- Neck mass on the left.
- Dysphagia.
- Aspiration.
How is Zenker diverticulum diagnosed?
Clinical palpation of a left-sided neck mass or a barrium shallow.
What are the causes of esophageal dysphagia?
- Mechanical obstruction –> Esophageal cancer, Schatzki ring, peptic stricture.
- Problem with esophageal motility –> Achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm, or scleroderma.
MC motility disorder often seen in patients with scleroderma?
Esophageal hypomotility.
What is the diagnostic feature seen on barium swallow in a patient with diffuse esophageal spasm?
“Corkscrew pattern”.
What is the treatment for diffuse esophageal spasm?
Nitroglycerin, CCB.
How is GERD diagnosed?
It is a clinical diagnosis.
What is the risk with Barrett esophagus?
10% lifetime risk of transforming into esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Duodenal or gastric ulcer is more common?
Duodenal 2x as common.
How does the underlying pathology of gastric ulcers differ from that of duodenal ulcers?
Gastric ulcers are not caused by increased acid production.
Patients are more likely to have decreased mucosal protection.
What test can determine if a patient may be infected with H.pylori?
- Stool H.pylori antigen.
- Urea breath test.
- Serum IgG test.
What is the drawback of the H.pylori blood test?
It does NOT indicate an ACTIVE infection.
It will be positive even if the patient was infected in the past and is NOT CURRENTLY infected.
–> Also, the test has LOW SENSITIVITY.
Name 3 acid hypersecretory states:
- Z-E syndrome.
- MEN I.
- Antral G-cell hyperplasia.
What tests would you order if you suspected a peptic ulcer?
- CBC to make sure patient is NOT anemic.
- Upper GI endoscopy or upper GI series.
- H.pylori screening.
What studies would you order if you suspected a perforated ulcer?
Abdominal series or upper GI series with contrast (do NOT use barium).
What would you expect to see on an abdominal series if there was a perforated ulcer?
Free air under the diaphragm.
What are the typical symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction?
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Weight loss.
- Distended abdomen.
- Loud bowel sounds.
What is the most serious complication of a posterior duodenal ulcer?
Erosion into the gastroduodenal artery can lead to a massive hemorrhage.
What symptoms could be a red flag for a gastric malignancy?
Early satiety with weight loss.
What blood group type is more likely to develop gastric cancer?
Type A.
Metastatic gastric cancer - Lymph node that can be palpated on a rectal exam due to metastasis to the pouch of Douglas?
Blumer shelf.
6 main causes of upper GI bleeds?
PAGE ME
Peptic ulcer AV malformation Gastritis Esophageal varices Mallory-Weiss tear Esophagitis
What blood tests would you order in a patient you thought may have a GI bleed?
- CBC (looking for anemia, platelet abnormality).
- BUN.
- PT, PTT.
- INR, bleeding abnormalities.
How are bleeding varices treated?
Ligation or injection of vessels with sclerosing or vasoconstrictive agents.
How should all GI bleeds be treated?
- Emergency airway.
- Breathing.
- Circulation as well as IV fluid resuscitation.
- Gastric lavage and NG tube if needed.
6 MCCs of lower GI bleeding:
- Diverticulosis.
- AV malformation.
- Hemorrhoids.
- Colitis.
- Colon cancer.
- Colonic polyps.
What is the MCC of a major lower GI bleed in a patient older than 60?
Diverticulosis.
What physical exam and imaging study would you do on a patient with suspected lower GI bleed?
ALWAYS DO A RECTAL EXAM.
Colonoscopy.
If no clear source is found, what other studies can be done?
- Endoscopy to rule out an upper GI source.
- Tagged RBC scan.
- Arteriography, gastric lavage.
- Barium enema (but not if there is acute blood loss).
Which type of diverticulum is more common?
False.
What is the treatment for diverticulosis?
Increase of fiber in diet and decrease of obstructing foods such as seeds and fatty foods.
MC symptom of diverticulitis?
LLQ abdominal pain.
Other signs/symptoms of diverticulitis:
- Constipation.
- Fever.
- Elevated WBC.
- Bleeding is much less common than with diverticulosis.
4 serious complications of diverticulitis:
- Perforation through the bowel wall causing peritonitis.
- Fistula formation.
- Abscess.
- Obstruction.
How do patients who develop a colovesicular fistula present?
Multiple UTIs.
What is the best imaging test to diagnose diverticulitis?
CT of the abdomen and pelvis.
What studies are contraindicated in diverticulitis?
Colonoscopy.
Contrast enema.
What is the treatment for diverticulitis?
- Npo.
- IV fluids.
- Antibiotics to cover anaerobes and enteric organisms.
How would you treat an abscess 2o to diverticulitis?
CT or US-guided percutaneous drainage.
How do you treat obstruction or perforation 2o to diverticulitis?
Surgical resection of affected bowel with colostomy that is usually temporary.
What is the MC nosocomial infection?
C.difficile
How is C.difficile diagnosed?
- C.difficile stool toxin.
2. Stool leukocytes.
How is pseudomembranous colitis confirmed?
On colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, a yellow plaque adherent to the colonic mucosa can be seen.
What is a volvulus?
Twisting of the bowel around the mesenteric base.
What is the MC location of volvulus?
Sigmoid.
What is the 2nd MC location of volvulus?
Cecum.
What are the symptoms of a volvulus?
- Painful, distended abdomen.
- High-pitched bowel sounds.
- Tympany on percussion.
What is the classic sign of volvulus on abdominal series?
Dilated loops of bowel with a kidney-bean appearance.
What is the sign of volvulus on a barium enema?
Bird’s beak appearance with the beak pointing to the area where the rotation has occurred.
How do the symptoms of right-sided and left-sided colon cancer differ?
Right –> Anemia.
Left –> Constipation.
What are the recommendations for colon cancer screening?
Starting age 50, a colonoscopy every 10 years or a sigmoidoscopy every 5 years with annual DRE + FOB exam.