Disease of the lower gastrointestinal tract Flashcards
What inflammatory diseases are part of the lower GI tract?
Appendicitis & colitis
Which cancer is associated with the lower GI tract?
Colorectal cancer
What is acute appendicitis?
Sudden onset of inflammation of the appendix. Caused by obstruction of appendix by stool, stone, tumour or worms which cause an increase in pressure and bacterial invasion.
Symptoms of acute appendicitis
Pain, nausea and vomiting and reduced appetite
Signs of acute appendicitis
Tenderness and guarding, fever and high white cell count.
Treatment for acute appendicitis
Surgery & abx
C. difficile in high numbers causes
Diarrhoea, toxic megacolon, bowel perforation and sepsis
Management of a patient in hospital with C. diff
Isolation, PPI, handwashing & abx like vancomycin and metronidazole.
Which areas are mostly affected by ulcerative colitis?
Rectum and colon
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis
Diarrhoea with blood and mucous
Drug treatments for inflammatory bowel disease
Steroids, amniosalicylates, immunosuppressants & biological agents.
Surgery treatments for inflammatory bowel disease
Colectomy/resection, Ileostomy and strictureplasty
Risk factors of bowel cancer
Age, family history, IBD, diet.
Signs and symptoms of bowel cancer
Blood from rectum Changes in bowel habit Iron deficiency anaemia Weight loss Abdo pain Lumps Bowel obstruction
How do we diagnose bowel cancer?
Endoscopy, biopsy, histology and radiology (CT)
