Digestive System Diseases Flashcards
Jaundice
Literally means “yellow” in French. Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes from a backup of bile metabolic by-product 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.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Severe heart burn in layman’s language. Weakness of the valve between the esophagus and stomach may allow stomach acid to reflux into the esophagus and irritate and inflame the lining. This result in chest pain which can mimic that of angina (pain of cardiac ischemia or an MI).
Diverticulosis / diverticulitis
Small pouches may form along the walls of the large intestine called diverticuli which if symptomatic, causing discomfort to the patient, is called diverticulosis. These abnormal out pocketings may collect and not be able to empty fecal material which can lead to inflammation, diverticulitis.
Cirrhosis
Literally, “orange-yellow” in Greek. A 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.
Portal hypertension
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 (naval). The characteristic radiating pattern of veins is called a “caput medusae” (head of Medusa).
Esophageal varices
Bulging, engorged veins in the walls of the esophagus are often complication of chronic alcoholism. The thin-walled, swollen veins are at risk of tearing resulting in severe, possibly fatal, bleeding.
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing. May be related to GERD, esophageal tumor or other causes.
Crohn’s Disease
A chronic inflammatory disease primarily of the bowel. Typical symptoms are abnormal 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.
Peritonitis
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.
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