dpd key Flashcards
A 75 y/o man presents w/ epigastric pain + back pain. HR: 130 bpm. BP: 80/50 mmHg. What is the most likely diagnosis?
1. Peptic ulcer
- Pancreatitis
- Gastritis
- GORD
- Ruptured aortic aneurysm
Ruptured aortic aneurysm due to the hypotension + back pain
What are the 2 types of abdominal pain?
Constant = inflammation Colicky = obstruction
What are the DDx for diffuse abdominal pain? (x 5)
- Obstruction - pt may present w/ N+V and tinkling bowel sounds due to faecal impaction
- Infection: peritonitis, gastroenteritis
- Inflammation: IBD
- Ischaemia: mesenteric ischaemia (post-prandial pain)
- Medical: DKA (check glucose, bicarb, VBG - Tx: fluids, insulin, potassium); Addison’s (fall in cortisol); Hypercalcaemia; porphyria (acute abdo pain + muscle weakness); lead poisoning
What are the DDx for epigastric pain? (x 5 broad categories)
- Stomach: peptic ulcer (NSAID overuse –> inhibits COX1 –> decreases gastrin –> decreases GI barrier properties); GORD; Gastritis; malignancy
- Pancreas: acute/chronic pancreatitis
- Heart: MI
- Aorta: ruptured aortic aneurysm
- Liver/gallbladder: cholecystitis, hepatitis
What is the definitive Ix for acute and chronic pancreatitis?
Acute: serum amylase will be increased
Chronic: faecal elastase will be decreased; serum amylase may be normal
What is the presentation of acute pancreatitis?
Pain, increased serum amylase + alcohol Hx
What is the presentation of chronic pancreatitis?
Pain, weight loss
Loss of exocrine function - steatorrhoea (pale stool that is difficult to flush)
Loss of endocrine function - diabetes
Normal amylase
Decreased feacal elastase - stool sample for Ix
What are the DDx for RUQ pain? (x 6 broad categories)
- Gallbladder: cholecystitis, cholangitis (infection of bile duct - jaundice, fever, rigor), gallstones
- Liver: Hepatitis, abscess
- Lungs: basal pneumonia
- Appendix: appendicitis (esp. in pregnant women), retrocaecal appendix (going up and backwards + is inflamed)
- Stomach, pancreas: peptic/duodenal ulcer, pancreatitis
- Kidney: pyelonephritis (pain when tapping on renal angle)
What are the DDx for RIF pain? (x 2 broad categories)
- GI: appendicitis, mesenteric adenitis, colitis (IBD), IBS, malignancy
- Gynaecological: ovarian cyst rupture, twist, bleed; salpingitis (= inflammation of Fallopian tubes); ectopic pregnancy
What are the DDx for suprapubic pain? (x 3)
- Cystitis
- Urinary retention
- UTI
What are the DDx for LIF pain? (x 2 broad categories)
- GI: Diverticulitis (note how this is only more likely on LHS not RHS); colitis (IBD, ischaemic colitis); malignancy; faecal impaction
- Gynaecological: ovarian cyst rupture, twist, bleed; ectopic pregnancy
Blockage of which artery causes ischaemia in the stomach/spleen/liver/gallbladder/duodenum?
coeliac artery
Blockage of which artery causes bowel ischaemia in the small intestine + right colon?
Superior mesenteric artery
A pt comes in w/ severe abdominal pain + signs of shock. Abdo exam is normal. What is the most likely Dx? (dNTK)
Acute mesenteric ischaemia: this is classic triad of severe abdo pain, normal abdo exam + shock. Caused by obstruction of superior mesenteric artery
A pt comes in w/ poorly localised, colicky, post-prandial abdo pain; PR bleeding + weight loss. On abdo X-ray, a gassless abdomen is seen w/ thickening of bowel wall. What is the most likely diagnosis? (dNTK)
Chronic mesenteric ischaemia
Causes: low flow state e.g. HF, atherosclerotic disease. Obstruction of superior mesenteric artery
A 65 y/o man w/ an AAA repair 2 days ago presents w/ diffuse abdominal pain. HR: 120 bpm and RR: 30. What are his blood tests likely to show?
- Normal lactate
- High amylase
- High bicarbonate
- High sodium
- High calcium
-High amylase - this is a feature of ANY cause of acute abdo pain (not just pancreatitis)
-Lactate will likely be high due to acidosis (high lactate indicates poor perfusion + ischaemia)
-Bicarbonate likely to be low due to acidosis
Sodium won’t usually be high, only observed in DI
A 55 y/o presents w/ confusion, abdo pain + abdo distension. SHx: Excess EtOH use. PMHx: cirrhosis. O/E: Ascites, liver flap. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Decompensated liver disease = classic triad of jaundice, encephalopathy + ascites
Which of the following is consistent w/ spontaneous bacterial peritonitis?
- Ascites neut > 25 cell/mm^3
- Ascites neut > 50 cell/mm^3
- Ascites neut > 100 cell/mm^3
- Ascites neut > 250 cell/mm^3
- Ascites neut > 500 cell/mm^3
Ascites neut > 250 cell/mm^3
What are the causes of abdominal distension (5 F’s)?
- Fluid (ascites) - shifting dullness, features of liver disease (A to J)
- Flatus (due to obstruction) - N&V, bowels not opening, high-pitched tinkling sounds, adhesions, tender irreducible femoral hernia in groin
- Fat
- Faeces
- Foetus
What is the name and causes of ascites w/ low protein level?
Transudate
Causes: cirrhosis, cardiac failure, nephrotic syndrome i.e. The failures
What is the name and causes of ascites w/ high protein level?
Exudate
Causes: infection (TB, pyogenic), malignancy, Budd-Chiari syndrome
A serum-ascites albumin gradient result has come out as < 11g/L, what does this indicate + what could the causes be?
Serum ascites albumin gradient = serum albumin - ascitic albumin. If it is < 11 g/L this suggests that the ascitic albumin is high therefore it is exudative. Causes are: TB, pancreatitis, cancer + peritonitis
N.B. Nephrotic syndrome is an important exception to this because it also has a low SAAG because of the hypoalbuminaemia so there is low serum albumin. (IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER)