Gastroenterology Flashcards
The following are all considered triggers for what condition?
Antibiotics - Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Nitrofurantoin
Anaesthetic agents - Ketamine, Etomidate
Sulfonamides
Barbiturates
Antifungal agents
Intermittent porphyria
(problem with haem metabolism)
How would a patient with intermittent porphyria present?
History of recent triggers eg nitrofurantoin
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Lethargy and confusion
Hypertension
What is the diagnostic test for intermittent porphyria?
urinary porphobilinogen
What are the basic management principles for a paracetamol overdose?
If ingestion less than 1 hour ago + dose >150mg/kg: Activated charcoal
If staggered overdose or ingestion >15 hours ago: Start N-acetylcysteine immediately
If ingestion <4 hours ago: Wait until 4 hours to take a level and treat with N-acetylcysteine based on level
If ingestion 4-15 hours ago: Take immediate level and treat based on level
Obtain following bloods:
FBC
Urea and Electrolytes
INR
Venous gas
Consider need for transfer to liver unit if blood tests are worsening
What is a diagnosis of diabetes, jaundice and joint pain suggestive of?
Hereditary haemochromatosis
How is hereditary haemochromatosis managed?
Blood letting or desferrioxamine
Which test is diagnostic for Crohn’s disease?
MRI small bowel
Which test is first line for bowel obstruction?
Abdominal xray
Which test is most likely diagnostic for bowel obstruction?
Abdominal CT
What does a raised ALT, dark urine and normal stools suggest?
hepatocellular injury (liver)
What does a raised ALP, dark urine and pale stools suggest?
Cholestatic picture
What might an isolated rise in ALP be associated with?
Bone involvement eg fractures/ mets
Pagets disease
What is the classic triad of symptoms for ascending cholangitis?
RUQ pain
Fever
Jaundice
What is the treatment of choice for biliary colic?
Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
What are the risk factors for biliary colic?
4Fs
Fat: obesity is thought to be a risk factor due to enhanced cholesterol synthesis and secretion
Female: gallstones are 2-3 times more common in women. Oestrogen increases activity of HMG-CoA reductase
Fertile: pregnancy is a risk factor
Forty
Define cholestasis
Blockage to the flow of bile
Define cholelethiasis
Gallstones are present
Define choledocholithiasis
Gallstones are in the bile duct
Define biliary colic
Intermittent RUQ pain caused by gallstones irritating bile ducts