Gastro Conditions Flashcards
List some clinical features of GORD
- Burning chest pain after eating
- Unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Pain on swallowing
- Cough, especially at night
What is Barrett’s oesophagus?
Metaplasia of squamous oesophageal epithelium into abnormal columnar epithelium caused by chronic gastric acid reflux and associated inflammation. Increased risk of oesophageal cancers with Barrett’s oesophagus.
Where does colorectal cancer commonly metastasise to?
Liver
Lungs
Peritoneal cavity
Bone
Is there a screening programme for bowel cancer?
Yes
What is the screening programme for bowel cancer?
FOB test (faecal occult blood) - Aims to detect microscopic amounts of blood in the faeces which may have originated from a bleeding polyps or adenocarcinoma
List some risk factors for developing colorectal cancer
Family history
Diet - low fibre, low vegetable, high red meat
Smoking
Alcohol
Other bowel disorders e.g. ulcerative colitis
Age > 65
Inactivity
Which part of the GI tract does ulcerative colitis involve? Which part of the GI tract does Crohn’s disease involve?
Ulcerative colitis = Colon and rectum only (maybe with extra-colonic features e.g. liver involvement)
Crohn’s = Entire GI tract, from mouth to rectum
Is unconjugated bilirubin soluble or insoluble?
INsoluble - it is a large molecule, bound to albumin
Which enzyme conjugates bilirubin?
Glucuronyl transferase
Which drugs may induce post-hepatic (cholestatic) jaundice?
Antibiotics: Flucloxacillin, co-amoxiclav, fusidic acid, nitrofurantoin Steroids: Anabolic, COCP Sulfonylureas Prochlorperazine Chlorpromazine
Which drugs may induce hepatic jaundice?
Paracetamol in overdose TB drugs: isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide MAO Inhibitors Sodium valproate Halothane Statins
What type of jaundice is associated with pale stools and dark urine?
Cholestatic jaundice
List some clinical features of gut malabsorption
Weight loss (without loss of appetite) Diarrhoea Steatorrhoea (fatty stool) Bloating Lethargy
What type of hernia is felt inferiorly and laterally to the pubic tubercle?
Femoral
What type of hernia is felt superiorly and medially to the pubic tubercle?
Inguinal
Give a definition of liver cirrhosis
Chronic liver disease characterised by fibrosis, formation or nodules, and loss of liver structure and function
Why might a patient with liver cirrhosis develop hepatic encephalopathy?
Portal hypertension may give rise to portal-systemic shunts where blood bypasses the filtration system in the liver and toxic products which are normally filtered e.g. ammonia, travel to the brain and cause encephalopathy
Which grading system assesses the severity of liver cirrhosis and predicts the risk of variceal bleeding?
Child-Pugh grading
What parameters are measured in the Child-Pugh score?
Bilirubin Albumin Prothrombin time (in seconds > normal) Presence of ascites Presence of encephalopathy
What might you detect in the serum of a patient with acute Hep B infection?
HBsAg +ve HBeAg +ve HBcAg +ve HBcAb +ve DNA ++ ALT raised Antibody Type = IgM
What might you detect in the serum of a patient who has had previous exposure to Hep B virus?
HBsAg -ve HBsAg +ve HBcAg -ve HbeAg -ve ALT normal Antibody Type = IgG
What is autoimmune hepatitis?
Autoantibodies against the hepatocyte surface antigen, associated with suppressor T cell defects
What type of autoantibodies are seen in Type I autoimmune hepatitis?
Anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA) in 80% Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in 10%
What type of autoantibodies are seen in Type II autoimmune hepatitis?
Anti-liver/kidney microsomal (ALKM) type 1 antibodies
What type of autoantibodies are seen in Type III autoimmune hepatitis?
Anti-soluble liver antibody (SMA)
What type of autoimmune hepatitis is more commonly seen in children?
Type II
How would you define acute liver failure?
New, rapidly developing illness in a patient with no prior liver disease. Characterise by presence of coagulation disturbance (INR >1.5) and encephalopathy
What are the ALARM Symptoms in a patient presenting with dyspepsia?
Anaemia (iron deficiency) Loss of weight Anorexia Recent onset / progressive symptoms Melaena / haematemesis Swallowing difficulty
What would be the initial management of a 60 year old patient who presents with dyspepsia?
Referral for upper GI endoscopy
What would be the initial management of a 42 year old patient who presents with dyspepsia associated with difficulty swallowing?
Referral for upper GI endoscopy
What would be the initial management of a 42 year old patient who presents with dyspepsia and no other symptoms?
- Stop drugs which might cause dyspepsia e.g. NSAIDs
- Offer lifestyle advice
- Recommend over-the-counter antacids
- Review in 4 weeks
You are reviewing a 40 year old patient with dyspepsia. She came to see you 4 weeks ago and her symptoms have not improved. She has no other associated symptoms. What is the next step in her management?
H. pylori test
What is the treatment for eradication of H. pylori?
Omeprazole 20mg bd
Amoxicillin 1g bd
Clarithromycin 500mg bd
What is the treatment for a 40 year old patient with dyspepsia who has a negative test for H. pylori?
PPI e.g. omeprazole 20mg daily
or
H2 antagonist e.g. ranitidine 150mg bd
Treat for 4 weeks then review
List some risk factors for developing a duodenal ulcer
H. pylori Drugs (NSAIDs, steroids, SSRIs) Increased gastric acid secretion Increased gastric emptying Blood group O Smoking
How are haemorrhoids classified?
1st degree - remain in the rectum
2nd degree - protrude through the anus on defecation but spontaneously reduce
3rd degree - protrude through the anus on defecation and need digital reduction
4th degree - remain persistently prolapsed