Gastroenterology Flashcards
Surgical differentials for acute abdominal pain
Peritonitis
Ruptured AAA
Appendicitis
Gallstones
Acute pancreatitis
Diverticulitis
Renal colic
Bowel obstruction
Acute mesenteric ischaemia
Obstructed/strangulated hernia
Testicular torsion
Volvulus
Meckel’s diverticulum
Adhesions
Medical differentials for acute abdominal pain
Gastritis/peptic ulcer
Pyelonephritis
Gastroenteritis
Constipation
Crohn’s/ UC
Hepatitis
Differentials for acute diarrhoea
- Gastroenteritis (+ abdo pain / N+V)
- Diverticulitis (left lower quadrant pain, diarrhoea, fever)
- Antibiotic therapy (broad spec Abx)
- Constipation causing overflow
Differentials for chronic diarrhoea
- IBS
- Ulcerative colitis (blood diarrhoea)
- Crohn’s disease (mouth ulcers, perianal disease)
- Colorectal cancer (rectal bleeding, weight loss)
- Coeliac disease
Differentials for dysphagia
- Oesophageal cancer
- Oesophagitis
- Oesophgeal candidiasis
- Achalasia
- Pharyngeal pouch
- Systemic sclerosis
- Myasthenia gravis
- Globus hystericus
Causes of acute pancreatitis
- Idiopathic
- Gallstones
- Ethanol
- Trauma
- Steroids
- Mumps
- Autoimmune
- Scorpion venom
- Hyperlipidaemia
- ERCP = endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- Drugs = azathioprine, furosemide, corticosteroids, NSAIDs, ACE-i
- Pregnancy and neoplasia
Presentation of acute pancreatitis
- Severe epigastric or central abdominal pain that radiates to back
- Sitting forward may relieve and worse on lying down
- Anorexia
- nausea and vomiting
- Tachycardia
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Dehydration
- Hypotension
- Abdominal guarding and tenderness
- Cullen’s sign = periumbilical bruising
- Grey Turner’s sign = left flank bruising
What is the difference between Cullen’s sign and Grey Turner’s sign?
- Cullen’s sign = periumbilical bruising
- Grey Turner’s sign = left flank bruising
Blood tests for acute pancreatitis
o Raised serum/urinary amylase
o Raised serum lipase = more sensitive and specific
o CRP level
Imaging for acute pancreatitis
- Abdominal ultrasound = gallstone pancreatitis
- Erect CXR
o Exclude gastroduodenal perforation = raises serum amylase
o May show gallstones or pancreatic calcification - Contrast enhanced CT = Identify extent of pancreatic necrosis
- MRI = Identifies degree of pancreatic damage
o Useful in differentiating fluid and solid inflammatory masses
What score can be used to assess severity in acute pancreatitis?
Glasgow score
PaO2 <60
- Age > 55
- Neutrophils >15
- Calcium <2
- uRea >16
- Enzymes = LDH >600 or AST/ALT >200
- Albumin <32
- Sugar = glucose >10
Management of acute pancreatitis
- Severity assessment essential and careful monitoring
- Nil by mouth = Nasogastric tube for dietary supplements to decrease pancreatic stimulation
- IV fluids
- Urinary catheter
- Analgesia = IM pethidine or IV morphine
- Endoscopic drainage of large pseudocysts
- Prophylactic antibiotics like beta-lactams = Cerfuroximr
- Surgery = remove infected pancreatic necrosis
Complications of acute pancreatitis
- Pancreatic necrosis
- Haemorrhage
- Infection in necrotic area
- Pseudocysts
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Peripancreatic fluid collections
- Pancreatic abscess
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Causes of chronic pancreatitis
- (Long-term) Alcohol excess
- Genetic (Hereditary pancreatitis) = Defects in trypsinogen gene, Cystic fibrosis
- Infection = HIV, mumps, coxsackie, echinococcus
- Autoimmune pancreatitis
- Hyperlipidaemia
- Structural = obstruction by trauma
- Chronic kidney disease
- Idiopathic
- Recurrent acute pancreatitis
Presentation of chronic pancreatitis
- Epigastric pain that ‘bores’ through to back
o Episodic or unremitting = relieved by sitting forward
o Exacerbated by alcohol - Nausea and vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Diarrhoea
- Steatorrhea = pale, loose, fatty, foul smelling stools that float
- Protein deficiency
- Diabetes mellitus
- Jaundice
Investigations for chronic pancreatitis
- Serum amylase and lipase normal
- Faecal elastase normal
- Abdominal ultrasound and contrast-enhance CT = Detects pancreatic calcification and dilated pancreatic duct
- MRI with MRCP = Identify more subtle abnormalities
Management of chronic pancreatitis
- Alcohol cessation
- Analgesia = NSAIDs opiates tricyclic antidepressants
- Duct drainage
- Shock wave lithotripsy = Fragment gallstones in head of pancreas
- Pancreatic enzyme supplements
- PPI = lansoprazole to help supplement pass stomach
- Diabetes = Insulin
Complications of chronic pancreatitis
- Malabsorption and steatorrhea
- Pseudocyst
- Diabetes
- Biliary or duodenal obstruction
- Splenic vein thrombosis
- Pseudoaneurysm
- Pancreatic ascites
- Pancreatic carcinoma
Causes of gastroenteritis
- E.coli
- Giardiasis
- Cholera
- Shigella
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Campylobacter
- Bacillus cereus (reheated rice)
- Amoebiasis
Presentation of gastroenteritis
- Watery stools
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- May be blood in diarrhoea
Incubation periods for bacteria in gastroenteritis
- 1-6hrs = staph. Aureus, bacillus cereus
- 12-48 hrs = salmonella, E.coli
- 48-72 hrs = shigella, campylobacter
- > 7 days = giardiasis, ameobiasis
What is coeliac disease?
Autoimmune condition where exposure to gluten causes inflammation in the small bowel
Risk factors for coeliac disease
- Other autoimmune diseases = T1DM, thyroid disease, primary biliary cirrhosis
- IgA deficiency
- Age of introduction to gluten into diet
- Rotavirus infection in infancy
- HLADQ2 and 8 association
Presentation of coeliac disease
- 1/3 asymptomatic = only detected on routine blood tests
- Failure to thrive = children
- Diarrhoea
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Steatorrhoea (Stinking stools/fatty stools)
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
Examination findings in coeliac disease
- Dermatitis herpetiformis = Red raised patches, often with blisters that burst on scratching
- Mouth ulcers
- Angular stomatitis = inflammation of one or both corners of mouth
- Clubbing
- Amenorrhoea
- Rare = Peripheral neuropathy, cerebellar ataxia, epilepsy
What is required before investigating for coeliac disease
Maintain gluten for at least 6 weeks before testing to get true results
What antibodies are present in coeliac disease?
o IgA Tissue transglutaminase antibody
o IgA Endomyseal antibody
o General IgA (deficiency)
What is the definitive investigation for coeliac disease?
- Endoscopy and duodenal biopsy
o Villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia
o All reverse on gluten free diet
What is the definitive management of coeliac disease?
- Lifelong gluten free diet = serum antibody testing for monitoring
o Eliminate wheat, barley, rye
o Dietician review
What other parts of management of coeliac disease are important?
- Correction of vit and mineral deficiencies = B12, folate, iron, calcium and vit D
- DEXA scan to monitor osteoporotic risk
- Checking coeliac antibodies to monitor
- Offered pneumococcal vaccine every 5 years
Complications of coeliac disease
- Anaemia (pernicious)
- Enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Increased risk of malignancy
- Osteopenia/osteoporosis
- Neuropathies
- Subfertility
- Ulcerative jejunitis
- Vitamin deficiency
What are the causes of malabsorption?
Pancreatic insufficiency
Pancreatitis
Cystic fibrosis
Biliary obstruction
Ileal resection
Bacterial overgrowth
Giardia lamblia
Small intestine resection/bypass
Lactose intolerance
Bacterial overgrowth
Abetalipoproteinaemia
Primary bile acid malabsorption
Lymphoma
TB
What is GORD?
Reflux of stomach contents through lower oesophageal sphincter and irritates lining of oesophagus
Risk factors for GORD
- Hiatus hernia
- Obesity
- Pregnancy = increased abdo pressure
- Gastric acid hypersecretion
- Slow gastric emptying
- Overeating
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Fat, chocolate, coffee ingestion
- Systemic sclerosis
- Drugs = nitrate, tricyclics, CCBs, antimuscarinic
Presentation of GORD
- Burning chest pain aggravated by bending, stooping and lying down
o Relieved by anti-acids
o Worse with hot drinks or alcohol - Belching
- Food, acid or bile regurgitation
- Retrosternal or epigastric pain
- Bloating
- Water brash = increased salivation
- Odynophagia = painful swallowing
- Nocturnal cough
- Hoarse voice
Red Flags for GORD
- Symptoms >4 wks
- Dysphagia, weight loss, haematemesis, anaemia
- Persistent vomiting
- GI bleeding
- Palpable mass
- Over 55
- Symptoms despite treatment
Investigations for GORD
If Red flag symptoms then endoscopy and barium swallow
Lifestyle changes for GORD
o Encourage weight loss
o Smoking cessation
o Small, regular meals
o Avoid hot drinks, excess alcohol, citrus fruits, aggregating foods and eating less than 3 hours before bed
o Sleep with head of bed raised
o Reduce stress and anxiety
o Review medications
Medication options for GORD
o Antacids = magnesium trisilicate mixture
o Alginates = Gaviscon
o Proton pump inhibitor = lansoprazole
o H2 receptor antagonists (antihistamine)= ranitidine
Surgery options for GORD
laparoscopic fundoplication = Tying fundus of stomach around lower oesophagus to narrow lower oesophageal sphincter
Complications of GORD
Oesophagi’s
Peptic stricture
Barrett’s oesophagus
Differences between Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn’s (NESTS)
No blood or mucus
Entire GI tract
Skip lesions
Terminal ileum most affected and Transmural inflammation
Smoking = risk factor
Ulcerative Colitis (CLOSEUP)
Continuous inflammation
Limited to colon and rectum
Only superficial mucosa
Smoking is protective
Excrete blood and mucus
Use aminosalicylates
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis