Functional Bowel Disorders Flashcards
What is the different between Functional and structural/organic GI disorders?
Functional:
- No detectable pathology
Structural:
- Macroscopic or microscopic detectable change in tissue
In what type of GI disorder are psychological effects more important?
Psychological factors are very important in functional disorders, particularly IBS
Name a few functional GI disorders?
Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Slow Transit Constipation
Oesophageal Spasm
What is non-ulcer Dyspepsia?
Dyspepsia without a visible cause on endoscopy
Dyspepsia is a group of symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Burping
- Nausea
- Heartburn
What causes non-ulcer dyspepsia?
Could be:
- Reflux
- Delayed gastric emptying
- An H. Pylori infection
- IBS
- Low level duodenal ulceration (i.e. not visible)
How do we diagnose Non-ulcer Dyspepsia?
- Careful history & exam
- ALARMS symptoms
- H Pylori Test
If in doubt about whether its NUD do an endoscopy in case its not
What are the ALARMS symptoms?
Age> 55 yrs
Loss of Weight
Anorexia/Anaemia
Recent Onset
Melaena or Haematemesis/Mass
Swallowing Difficulty
Also look out for nocturnal symptoms, rectal bleeding, recent med changes (particularly antibiotics) and a family history of bowel or ovarian cancer.
How do we treat NUD?
If H Pylori +ve treat with eradication therapy
If -ve treat the symptoms
Define Vomiting, Nausea and Retching?
Nausea = feeling sick
Retching = Dry heaves. The antrum is contracting with closed glottis
Vomiting = Contents expelled
What is the chemoreceptor trigger zone?
An area of the medulla oblongata that receives inputs from blood-borne drugs and hormones and communicates with structures in the vomiting center to initiate vomiting
How does time after eating help us determine the cause of vomiting?
Immediate = Psychogenic
1 hour or More = Pyloric OBstruction or a motility disorder (e.g. diabetes)
12 Hours = Intestinal obstruction
Name some functional disorders causing of vomiting?
- Drugs
- Pregnancy
- Migraine
- Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome
- Alcohol
- Psychogenic
What is cyclical vomiting syndrome?
A rare disorder starting mainly in childhood causing recurrent episodes of vomiting
Between a few a year to a few a month
Often have to be hospitilized till they settle
Who is most at risk of psychogenic vomiting?
Young Women
What causes psychogenic vomiting?
We dont really know, possibly stress or anxiety.
Sometimes it may be self-induced, there is some overlap with bulimia