Gastro disorders Flashcards
Gastrointestinal disorders involve the GI tract and accessory organs what are these?
gi tract ; oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum
accessory organs; liver gallbladder and pancreas
what is Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease (GERD) and what is it commonly known as
- irritation of the oesophageal lining by stomach acid due to excessive acid reflux through the lower oesophageal sphincter (cardiac sphincter)
- commonly known as heart burn
which age group is GERD most common in and what external and internal factors may be the cause?
- usually in adults older than 40
- internal factors; diminished oesophageal clearance due to body position, lack of saliva, defective anti-reflux barrier due to hiatal hernia, gastric factors eg. acid production or slowed gastric emptying
- external factors; diet, smoking, medication
what is the usual treatment for GERD and if not managed what is a potential complication of the disease?
- treatment usually meds that decrease stomach acid production (eg, proton pump inhibitor)
- Barretts oesophagus with risk of adenocarcinoma
Gastritis is the most common problem affecting the gut what is this and what are the two forms it can be?
- inflammation of the gastric mucosa
- erosive gastritis and non erosive gastritis
distinguish the difference between the two forms of gastritis and their likely causes
Erosive Gastritis: often doesn’t cause significant inflammation but can wear stomach lining and lead to bleeding, erosions and ulcers. most common cause = prolonged use of NSAIDs
Non erosive gastritis: inflammation is present and most common cause is the Helicobacter Pylori bacteria infection that infects the lining of the stomach
what is the most common test used to diagnose gastritis?
endoscopy with a biopsy of the stomach
what is the treatment for gastritis?
medication that decreases stomach acid can relieve symptoms and promote healing of the stomach lining. These include;
- antacids (neutralise stomach acid)
- histamine 2 blockers (decrease acid production)
- proton pump inhibitors (are more effective than H2 blockers)
remove the cause
What are peptic ulcers
lesions in the stomach (gastric ulcer), duodenum (duodenal ulcer) or oesophagus (oesophageal ulcer) occur due to the lining of these organs being corroded by the acidic digestive juices which are secreted by the stomach cells
what may indicate a gastric ulcer
they can bleed so the presence of blood in vomit or stool
what is the most common type of ulcer and what may cause it
- duodenal ulcer
- may be caused by hypersecretion of acid and pepsin which enters the duodenum or a decrease in bicarbonate production by the pancreas may also contribute
what type of ulcer would be a result of gastric reflux
oesophageal ulcer
what is pancreatitis due to, what happens within the pancreas and what are the symptoms?
- due to local effect of proteolytic enzymes being inappropriately activated rpior to leaving the pancreas and leaking into the interstitial space
- what happens; inflammation, hemorrhage, fat necrosis of pancreatic fat and pancreatic necrosis
- presents with abdominal pain, nausea, fever, vomiting
Pancreatitis can either be acute or chronic describe acute pancreatitis and the common causes
- serum amalyse an serum lipase levels are elevated
- Local: release of enzymes causes inflammation and oedema in the retroperitoneum
- systemic damage can occur when severe
- most common causes are gallstones blocking the common bile duct or alcohol abuse
Pancreatitis can either be acute or chronic describe chronic pancreatitis, its common cause and symptoms
- permenant irreversible damage with fibrosis and loss of function pancratic tissue
- 70% of the time due to chronic alcoholism
- presents chronic but mild abdo pain (intensity increases as gland is progressively damaged) diarrhoea in later stages and weight loss due to malabsorption
how does alcohol abuse cause pancreatitis
alcohol stimulates pancreatic secretions and protein concentrations which gradually plug the ducts