Digestive System Diseases

Question 1

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Answer 1

• Sever “heartburn”
• Weakness of the valve between the esophagus and stomach may allow stomach acid to reflux (regurgitate, backup) into the esophagus and irritate and inflame the lining
• This results in chest pain which can mimic that of angina (pain of cardiac ischemia or an MI).

Question 2

Jaundice

Answer 2

• Literally means “yellow” in French
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes from a backup of bile metabolic by-products from the blood into body tissues
• May result from blockage of the ducts draining bile from the liver into the intestines or excessive breakdown of red blood cells
• Hemoglobin from destroyed RBCs is broken down, and in part, ends up in bile secretions

Question 3

Diverticulosis/diverticulitis

Answer 3

• Small pouches may form along the walls of the large intestine called diverticulitis which if symptomatic, causing discomfort to the patient, is called diverticulosis
• these abnormal outpocketings may collect and not be able to empty fecal material which can lead to inflammation, diverticulitis

Question 4

Cirrhosis

Answer 4

• Literally “orange-yellow” in Greek
• Degenerative disease of the liver that often develops in chronic alcoholics, but can have other causes
• The name refers to the gross appearance of the organ

Question 5

Portal hypertension

Answer 5

• A potential complication of chronic alcoholism resulting in liver damage and obstruction of venous blood flow through the liver
• The rising blood pressure in the veins between the gastrointestinal tract and liver causes engorgement of veins around the umbilicus (navel)
• The characteristic radiating pattern of veins is called a “CapCut medusae” (head of Medusa)

Question 6

Esophageal varices

Answer 6

• Bulging, engorged veins in the walls of the esophagus are often a complication of chronic alcoholism
• The thin-walled, swollen veins are at risk of tearing resulting in severe, possibly fatal, bleeding

Question 7

Dysphasia

Answer 7

• Difficulty swallowing
• May be related to GERD, esophageal tumor, or other causes

Question 8

Crohn’s Disease

Answer 8

• Chronic inflammatory disease primarily of the bowel
• Typical symptoms are abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea
• There may also be rectal bleeding that can lead to anemia
• Special X-rays and tests are needed to differentiate Crohn’s from other diseases with similar symptoms

Question 9

Peritonitis

Answer 9

• Inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity
• Before antibiotics, people would die from peritonitis if an inflamed appendix burst
• Indications of peritonitis are called “peritoneal signs”: tender abdomen, rebound pain (pain when manual pressure released from examining abdomen), board-like rigidity of abdominal muscles, no bowel sounds (gurgles)
• The peritoneal membrane is very sensitive to exposure to foreign substances
• Contact with blood, bile, urine, pus will cause peritoneal signs