DISORDERS OF THE STOMACH, DUODENUM AND OESOPHAGUS Flashcards
What is the difference between gastritis and gastropathy?
Gastritis is inflammation associated with mucosal injury
Gastropathy is epithelial cell damage and regeneration without inflammation
What classification tool is used for gastritis?
Sydney system
What are the most common causes of gastritis?
H.pylor is the most common
Autoimmune gatsritis in 5% of cases
Viruses
Duodenogastric reflux
Specific causes e.g. crohns
What are the 2 types of gastritis?
Acute gastritis
Atrophic gastritis
What is acute gastritis?
Inflammation of gastric mucosa that comes on suddenly
What is atrophic gastritis?
Chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa that causes epithelial metaplasia, mucosal atrophy and gland loss
Can lead to gastric intestinal metaplasia which is a precursor to gastric cancer
What is autoimmune gastritis?
A pangastritis (affects fungus and body) which leads to Atrophic gastritis and loss of parietal cells = achlorhydria and intrinsic factor deficiency = pernicious anaemia symptoms
Metaplasia of intestinal cells is common
Serum autoantibodies to gastric parietal cells are common
Antibodies to intrinsic factor are rarer but more significant
What are examples of viruses that can cause gastritis?
Cytomegalovirus
Herpes simplex virus
What causes gastropathy?
Irritants e.g. drugs, NSAIDs, alcohol
Bile reflux
Chronic ingestion
Severe stress
Burns
Trauma
Shock
Renal failure
Portal hypertension
What type of gastropathy can severe stress cause?
Stress ulcers
What type of gastropathy can burns cause?
Curling ulcers
What are curling ulcers?
an acute gastric erosion resulting as a complication from severe burns when reduced plasma volume leads to ischemia and cell necrosis (sloughing) of the gastric mucosa
What type of gastropathy can portal hypertension cause?
Portal gastropathy
What are the signs and sympotms of gastritis?
May be asymptomatic
Epigastric pain
N+v
Mucosal ulcers
Haemorrhage, haematemesis, melena
IDA or pernicious anaemia - may cause symmetrical neuropathy in lower limbs)
How is gastritis/gastropathy diagnosed?
Endoscopic biopsy
H.pylori detection - serology, stool antigen test, urease breath test
Anti-IF or anti-parietal antibodies
Increased serum gastrin and decreased serum pepsinogen
Why does gastritis cause an increase in serum gastrin?
Parietal cell loss causes achlorhydria which causes unrestricted gastrin secretion
How is gastritis or gastropathy managed?
Remove offending agents
Eradicate H.pylori with triple therapy
Correct vitamin deficiencies in autoimmune atrophic gastritis
Whats the triple therapy to eradicated H.pylori?
PPI
Clarithromycin
Amoxicillin
- for 2 weeks
Which area of the stomach is most likely affected in
A) autoimmune atrophic gastritis
B) infectious atrophic gastritis
A- body and fungus (pangastritis)
B- antrum
What is gastroparesis?
Delayed gastric emptying with no mechanical obstruction
What causes Gastroparesis?
Most commonly idiopathic or secondary to poorly controlled diabetes
Iatrogenic - post-surgical or a medication side efefct
Others - amyloidosis, scleroderma, parkinsonism, MS, stress
Why can diabetes cause gastroparesis?
Neuropathy from hyperglycaemia can cause muscles to slow or not work at all (autonomic neuropathy)
What are the symptoms and signs of Gastroparesis?
Chronic nausea and vomiting
Early satiety
Bloating
Abdominal pain upper
How is gastroparesis diagnosed?
Endoscopy OGD to exclude mechanical obstruction (further imaging with CT or MRI may be needed)
Once this has been ruled out, diagnosis can be made with…
Gastric emptying scintigraphy
What is scintigraphy?
a nuclear medicine scan that determines the rate of gastric emptying.
The patient must fast overnight before eating an isotope-labelled meal. The residual content of the stomach is then measured at 4 hours with more than 10% considered abnormal.
What can help differentiate between myopathic and neuropathic causes of gastroparesis?
Gastroduodenal manometry
What is Gastroduodenal manometry?
a test of the pressure changes which occur within the stomach and upper intestine during digestion
What are myopathic causes of gastroparesis?
Amyloidosis
Scleroderma
How is gastroparesis managed?
Relief of symptoms
Correction of nutritional deficincies
Medical treatment - pro-motility agents
Surgery - gastric pacemaker insertion
Diet of frequent, small, low-fibre meals may help
Better glycaemic control in diabetics
What is dyspepsia?
a number of upper abdominal symptoms e.g. heartburn, acidity, pain or discomfort, nausea, wind, fullness or belching
Typically present for 4 weeks or more
What are features of dyspepsia that are suggestive of serious diseases?
Dysphagia
Weight loss
Vomiting
Anorexia
Haematemesis or melaena
What is GORD?
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) may be defined as symptoms of oesophagitis secondary to refluxed gastric contents through the lower oesophageal sphincter and irritates the lining of the oesophagus
Ulcers on other cards
X
What is uninvestigated dyspepsia?
Symptoms in people who have not had an endoscopy
What are the causes of dyspepsia?
GORD
PUD
Functional dyspepsia
Barrett’s oesophagus
Upper GI malignancy
What is GORD/
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is usually a chronic condition where there is reflux of gastric contents back into the oesophagus, causing predominant symptoms of heartburn and acid regurgitation.
What is proven GORD?
refers to endoscopically-determined reflux disease
What can cause GORD?
Oesophagitis
Endoscopy-negative reflux disease
What is Endoscopy-negative reflux disease?
when a person has symptoms of GORD but endoscopy is normal.
What are the risk factors for developing GORD?
Lifestyle factors, such as obesity, trigger foods, smoking, alcohol, coffee, and stress.
Drugs that decrease the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, such as calcium-channel blockers, anticholinergics, theophylline, benzodiazepines, and nitrates.
Pregnancy.
Hiatus hernia
Whats the annual and lifestyle risk of recurrence of untreated GORD symptoms?
Annual risk is 50%
Lifetime risk is 80%
What can GORD predispose people to?
10-15% will develop Barretts oesophagus and 1-10% of these will develop oesophageal adenocarcinoma over the next 10-20 years
How should GORD be managed?
Advice on lifestyle measures and sleeping with the head of the bed raised.
Reviewing and stopping any drugs that may be exacerbating symptoms, if possible and appropriate.
Offering a full-dose PPI for 4 weeks for proven GORD, to aid healing.
Offering a full-dose PPI for 8 weeks for proven severe oesophagitis, to aid healing.
What is functional dyspepsia?
people with dyspepsia symptoms and normal findings on endoscopy
Most common diagnosis
What are the 2 subtypes of functional dyspepsia?
Epigastric pain syndrome, where intermittent or burning pain is localized to the epigastrium.
Post-prandial distress syndrome, where there is post-prandial fullness or early satiety.
How is functional dyspepsia managed?
Offering advice on lifestyle measures that may improve symptoms.
Assessing for stress, anxiety, and depression, and managing these appropriately. (Considered a gut:brain interaction)
Reviewing and stopping any drugs which may be exacerbating symptoms, if possible and appropriate.
Always test for H.pylori if status is mot known
When should you refer a person with suspected oesophageal cancer for urgent endoscopy?
With dysphagia or
Aged 55 and over with wright loss and upper abdo pain or reflux or dyspepsia
When should you refer a person with suspected oesophageal cancer for non-urgent endoscopy?
For those who have haematemesis
When should you refer a person with suspected stomach cancer for urgent endoscopy?
Upper abdominal mass consistent with stomach cancer
People with dysphagia
Those aged 55 and over with upper abdominal pain, reflux or dyspepsia
When should you refer a person with suspected stomach cancer for non-urgent endoscopy?
People with haematemesis
How should you assess someone with dyspepsia?
Ask about any alarm symptoms thta may suggest serious underlying pathology
Assess frequency, duration and pattern of sympotms
Ask about FHx of upper GI maliganncy
Lifestyle factors that may cause symptoms e.g. obesity, trigger foods, smoking, alcohol
Assess for stress, anxiety and depression which may worsen symptoms
Review meds
Examine for weight loss, signs of anaemia, abdominal masses and tenderness
Consider FBC to check for anaemia and raised platelet count
What foods can worsen dyspepsia?
coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, fatty or spicy foods
What drugs can cause or exacerbate dyspepsia?
alpha-blockers
anticholinergics
aspirin
benzodiazepines
beta-blockers
bisphosphonates
calcium-channel blockers
corticosteroids
nitrates
NSAIDs
theophyllines
TCAs
How should you manage dyspepsia with an unidentified cause?
Advice on lifestyle measures e.g. losing weight, avoiding trigger foods, eating smaller meals, stop smoking, reduce alcohol
Stop any meds that may be causing it
Offer either a PPI for 1 month or test for H.pylori. If symptms persist then switch to alternative strategy
Advise on follow up appointments
How should endoscopically proven oesophagitis be treated?
Full dose PPI for 1-2 months
(If refractory then low dose treatment as required and if no response then double-dose PPI for 1 month)
How should endoscopically negative reflux disease be managed?
Full dose PPI for a month
(If no response then low dose treatment as required and if no response then H2RA or pro kinetic for 1 month)
What are complications of GORD?
Oesophagitis
Ulcers
Anaemia
Benign strictures
Barretts oesophagus
Oesophageal cancer
Why is the oesophagus more sensitive to the effects of stomach acid in comparison to the stomach?
The oesophagus has a squamous epithelial lining whilst the stomach has columnar epithelial lining so its more protected
Whats an alternative to PPIs for managing GORD?
Ranitidine
What is ranitidine and wats its moa?
A H2 receptor antagonist
The reversible inhibition of H2-receptors in gastric parietal cells results in a reduction in both gastric acid volume and concentration.
What surgery can be done for GORD?
Laparoscopic Fundoplication - tying the fundus of the stomach around the lower oesophagus to narrow the lower oesophageal sphincter.
What is Barrett’s oesophagus?
What is Barrett’s oesophagus?
When constant acid reflux results in metaplasia on the lower oesogeal epithelium causing a change from squamous to columnar epitheiulim - will cause an improvement in their reflux symptoms
Whats the complication of Barrett’s oesophagus?
It’s a pre malignant condition and is a risk factor for the development of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus - 3-5% lifetime risk
What monitoring is done for Barrett’s oesophagus?
For patients with metaplasia - Monitored for adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus by regular endoscopy every 3-5 years
Outline the steps in progression from Barrett’s oesophagus to oesophageal adenocarcinoma?
No dysplasia
Low grade dysplasia
High grade dysplasia
Adenocarcinoma
How is Barrett’s oesophagus managed?
PPI
Regular aspirin can reduce the rate of adenocarcinoma developing
Ablation treatment during endoscopy to replace columnar epitelium with squamous cell epithelium - done for patients with dysplasia of any grade
What are the subdivisions of Barrett’s oesophagus?
short <3cm
Long >3cm