Gastroenterology Flashcards
What’s the first study that should be ordered to evaluate dysphagia of unknown cause?
Barium study
What is the pre-cancerous histologic change that affects the esophagus called?
Barrett esophagus
Describe the presentation of achalasia.
Young nonsmoker w/ dysphagia to both solids and liquids
- may also have regurgitation of food and aspiration
- may be progressive
What is the best initial test for achalasia? Most accurate?
First: Barium swallow or CXR
Most accurate: esophageal manometry
- endoscopy can be ordered to exclude malignancy but isn’t needed for dx of achalasia
How does manometry assist in making the diagnosis of achalasia?
Shows an absence of normal esophageal peristalsis
- abnormally high pressure at lower esophageal sphincter (pathophysiology involves failure of gastroesophageal sphincter to relax)
- no mucosal abnormality
How is achalasia treated? What are the associated risks?
Pneumatic dilation of the esophageal sphincter (risk of perforation) or surgical myotomy
Severe dz treated by per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM)
- uses upper endoscopy to reach the surgical site
- a botulinum toxin injection may be used as an alternative if pt declines the above txs *
What combinations of symptoms can you use to help distinguish between esophageal pathologies and cancer in a patient w/ dysphagia and weight loss?
Dysphagia + wt loss = esophageal pathology
Dysphagia + wt loss + heme-positive stool/anemia = cancer
How does esophageal cancer present?
Dysphagia (first to solids, then liquids)
+ possible heme-positive stool/anemia
+ pt >50yo w/ smoking/EtOH hx
What’s the best initial test if you suspect esophageal cancer?
Endoscopy; next option would be barium swallow
How is esophageal cancer treated?
Surgical resection (if there are no local or distant mets) followed by 5-fluorouracil chemo
Palliative stenting can be performed to relieve obstruction
What is the common underlying cause for esophageal webs and rings (aka “peptic strictures”)?
Repeated exposure of esophagus to stomach acid –> scarring and stricture formation
- previous use of sclerosing agents for variceal bleeding can also cause these problems, which is why variceal banding is preferred
What constellation of symptoms is suggestive of eosinophilic esophagitis? How do you diagnose and treat it?
- Dysphagia
- Hx of allergies
Dx: Scope + biopsy
Tx: PPIs and budesonide
What is Plummer-Vinson syndrome? How is it treated?
A proximal stricture a/w iron deficiency anemia and squamous cell esophageal cancer common in middle-aged women
Tx: iron replacement
What is Schatzki ring? How do you treat it?
Peptic stricture of the distal ring of the esophagus that presents w/ intermittent dysphagia
Tx: pneumatic dilation
How is peptic stricture from acid reflux treated?
Pneumatic dilation
What procedures should be avoided in a patient w/ Zenker diverticulum?
Endoscopy and nasogastric tube placement
What is a Zenker diverticulum? How does it present, and how do you treat it?
Dilation of posterior pharyngeal constrictor muscles diagnosed via barium study
- pt presents w/ dysphagia and very bad breath due to decomposing food retained in the diverticulum
Tx: surgical resection
How does a case of diffuse esophageal spasm or nutcracker esophagus present? What test is best? How do you treat?
Sx: severe chest pain w/o risk factors for ischemic heart disease +/- dysphagia
- normal EKG, stress test, angiography
Dx: manometry
- barium swallow could show corkscrew pattern if it was performed during an acute attack
Tx: CCBs and nitrates (same as Prinzmetal angina)
- TCAs can be tried if CCBs aren’t an option
How is Prinzmetal angina distinguished from diffuse esophageal spasm?
Prinzmetal angina will give ST elevation on EKG and abnormality on stimulation of coronary arteries
How does scleroderma (progressive systemic sclerosis) present and how is it treated?
Presents as reflux w/ colonic dysmotility
Tx: PPIs
How does esophagitis present?
Odynophagia, NOT dysphagia
What is the most common cause of esophagitis in HIV-positive patients? What’s another less common cause?
In pts w/ <100 CD4 cells, candida esophagitis causes >90% of cases
- less commonly pill esophagitis from doxycycline, bisphosphonate, alendronate, etc.
What advice should be given to patients experiencing pill esophagitis?
- Sit up and drink more water with pills
- Remain upright for >30 minutes after taking pill
How does eosinophilic esophagitis present? What’s the relevant exam finding on endoscopy? What’s the relevant lab test?
Swallowing difficulty, food impaction, and heartburn in a pt w/ hx of asthma and allergic diseases
- multiple concentric rings on endoscopy
- biopsy finding w/ eosinophils (most accurate test)
How do you treat eosinophilic esophagitis? What’s the single most effective treatment?
PPIs and elimination of allergenic foods
- most effective: swallowing steroid inhalers
How does treatment differ between patients with and without HIV in cases of esophagitis?
HIV-positive, <100 CD4s: fluconazole, then endoscopy if there’s no response (**remember most cases are Candida)
HIV-negative: endoscopy before initiating treatment
What is a Mallory-Weiss tear?
A tear in the esophageal wall that presents w/ sudden upper GI bleeding w/ violent retching and vomiting
- may or may not have hematemesis or black stool
How do you diagnose and treat Mallory-Weiss tear?
Diagnose w/ endoscopy (barium swallow shows nothing)
* subcutaneous air seen only in perforation of the esophagus
Most cases resolve spontaneously
- if bleeding persists, inject epinephrine
Describe the symptoms of GERD.
- substernal chest pain
- epigastric pain
- sore throat
- metallic or bitter taste
- hoarseness
- chronic cough (20-25% of cases of chronic cough can also be diagnosed w/ GERD)
- wheezing
PPIs are both diagnostic and therapeutic for GERD. If there is no response to PPI therapy, what’s your next step to make the diagnosis?
24-hour pH monitor
What is the initial treatment for mild GERD?
Lifestyle modification
- weight loss
- not eating within 3hrs of sleep
- elevating head of bed
- quit smoking
- limit EtOH, caffeine, chocolate, mint
If lifestyle modifications don’t work to treat GERD, what are the other options?
- PPIs achieve control in 95% of cases (all options are equal in efficacy)
- H2 blockers (cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine) have a 70% success rate
- promotility agents (metoclopramide) are equal to H2 blockers in efficacy but less effective than PPIs
- surgical or endoscopic procedure to narrow distal esophagus and re-constrict lower esophageal sphincter (Nissen fundoplication)
How does high calcium cause ulcers?
Stimulates gastrin release
When is reflux an alarming symptom that warrants endoscopy?
When associated w/ weight loss, anemia, blood in the stool, and dysphagia
What is Barrett esophagus?
A precancerous lesion (0.5% of cases per year develop into cancer) diagnosed by endoscopy and biopsy that confirms change of squamous epithelium to columnar epithelium w/ metaplasia
How is Barrett esophagus treated? Low-grade dysplasia? High-grade dysplasia?
Barrett: PPI and repeat endoscopy q3-5 years
Low-grade dysplasia: PPI, ablation, repeat endoscopy in 3-6mo
High-grade dysplasia: endoscopic mucosal resection, ablative removal, or distal esophagectomy
What is the most common cause of epigastric discomfort?
Functional (nonulcer) dyspepsia, which is a diagnosis of exclusion
- diagnosed after endoscopy has ruled out ulcers, cancer, and gastritis
How do you treat functional dyspepsia?
Symptomatic treatment w/ H2 blockers, liquid antacids, or PPIs
- you can treat for Helicobacter in refractory disease
Can you distinguish between duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer without endoscopy?
No, though generally food makes gastric ulcer pain worse and duodenal ulcer pain better.
What MUST be done in a patient over 60yo with epigastric pain?
Scope to rule out gastric cancer
How do you treat Helicobacter pylori?
PPI + clarithromycin + amoxicillin
- increasing macrolide resistance is increasing the use of metronidazole and bismuth as adjunct
- only treat H. pylori when a/w gastritis; there’s no benefit in GERD
What do you do if PPI + clarithromycin + amoxicillin doesn’t successfully treat H pylori?
Repeat treatment w/ metronidazole and tetracycline + PPI; consider adding bismuth
- if repeat course fails, evaluate for Zollinger-Ellison
What are the adverse effects of PPIs?
- impaired calcium absorption (may lead to fractures)
- impaired magnesium absorption
- impaired vitamin B12 absorption
- impaired iron absorption
- impaired resistance to bacterial invasion (reduced acid barrier –> increased risk of pna and C. Diff)
- impaired kidney function leading to interstitial nephritis (eosinophils in urine)
What are the primary conditions that lead to stress peptic ulcers?
Head trauma, intubation/ventilation, burns, coagulopathy + steroid use
Which medications are most effective at preventing stress ulcers?
PPI»_space; H2 blocker, sulcrafate
What is Zollinger-Ellison syndrome? How is it diagnosed?
aka gastrinoma
- elevated gastrin level
- elevated gastric acid output
What are the characteristics of a normal peptic ulcer? What are the characteristics of ulcers suspicious for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?
Normal: single ulcer near pylorus, <1cm, resolves easily w/ tx
ZES: multiple large ulcers, >1cm, distally located near ligament of Treitz, recurrent or resistance despite adequate treatment
If hypercalcemia is present along w/ multiple large distally-located, treatment-resistant gastric ulcers, what do you suspect?
Parathyroid problem + Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, which together raise the suspicion for multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndrome
Which medications cause elevated gastrin levels?
H2 blockers and PPIs
Which tests are appropriate for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome? Which is most accurate?
- endoscopic ultrasound
- nuclear somatostatin scan (very sensitive b/c ZES causes huge increase in # of somatostatin receptors)
- secretin suppression (most accurate!!)
What is the treatment for Zollinger-Ellison?
Surgical resection for local disease and lifelong PPIs for metastatic dz
How does secretin suppression test for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?
Infusion of IV secretin causes healthy people to decrease gastrin level and acid output
ZES pts will show increased or unchanged gastrin level and no decrease in acid output
What are the extra-intestinal manifestations of IBD?
- joint pain
- iritis/uveitis
- pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema nodosum
- sclerosing cholangitis
Which features are more common in Crohn disease than ulcerative colitis?
- masses
- skip lesions
- upper GI tract involvement
- perianal disease
- transmural granulomas
- fistulae
- hypocalcemia from fat malabsorption
- obstruction
- calcium oxalate kidney stones
- cholesterol gallstones
- vitamin B12 malabsorption
What tests are used in diagnosis of IBD?
- endoscopy
- barium study
- blood tests (if diagnosis is not clear)
- fecal calprotectin (made by WBCs) to track disease activity
How are fecal calprotectin levels interpreted in cases of possible IBD?
High in IBD and bowel infection
Low in absence of infection/inflammation
Which blood tests can be used to assist in the diagnosis of IBD?
ASCA (positive in Crohn’s, negative in UC)
ANCA (negative in Crohn’s, positive in UC)
How does IBD impact the need for colon cancer screening?
CD w/ colonic involvement and UC can lead to colon cancer
After 8-10 years of colonic involvement, colonoscopies should be completed every 1-2 years
What is the best initial treatment for both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis?
Mesalamine
- not sulfasalazine due to side effects (rash, hemolytic anemia, interstitial nephritis)
What are the treatments for IBD?
Mesalamine (best initial)
Steroids
- budesonide (glucocorticoid) for control of acute exacerbations has limited systemic adverse effects
Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine
-for severe disease w/ recurrent symptoms after steroid cessation
- can help pts wean off steroids
- thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) testing can help ensure pts can metabolize potentially toxic metabolites of these drugs
TNF inhibitors
- for CD a/w fistula formation
- test for and start treatment for latent TB before initiating infliximab bc it can reactivate TB by releasing it from granulomas
- you don’t have to complete tx before starting infliximab or JAK inhibitor, just start it
Metronidazole + ciprofloxacin
- for perianal involvement in Crohns
Vedolizumab (IV integrin receptor antagonist)
- for severe IBD not controlled by other txs
- induces and maintains remission w/o risk of PML
What role does surgery play in IBD treatment?
Can be curative in UC by removing colon, but CD will still recur at surgical site
*surgery may still be necessary in Crohns in the event of stricture or obstruction
Which TNF inhibitors may be used in IBD? How can you monitor and adjust for effectiveness?
Adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, and infliximab
If ineffective, check TNF level and antibodies and switch TNF drugs.
If level is normal but there are no antibodies, switch drug class.
What is the most important feature of infectious diarrhea presentation in regards to diagnosis and management?
Presence or absence of blood; blood indicates presence of invasive bacteria
Which bacteria is the most common cause of food poisoning?
Campylobacter (may be associated w/ Guillain-Barre and reactive arthritis)
Which bacteria is transmitted by chickens/eggs? Associated w/ seafood?
Chickens: salmonella
Seafood: vibrio
Which bacteria is most commonly associated w/ hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)?
E. coli 0157:H7, which secretes verotoxin and is associated w/ undercooked beef
What common treatments can worsen HUS?
Platelet transfusions and antibiotics
Which infectious diarrhea patient makes you suspicious for Vibrio vulnificus?
Shellfish consumption in a person w/ liver disease and skin lesions
Which bacteria responsible for infectious diarrhea are associated w/ reactive arthritis?
Campylobacter and Shigella (shiga toxin)
What defines severe disease in a patient with infectious diarrhea?
Presence of blood, fever, abdominal pain, hypotension/tachycardia
How do you treat mild vs severe cases of infectious diarrhea?
Mild: hydration only; dz is time-limited
Severe: fluroquinolones (ciprofloxacin or azithromycin)
Which pathogens cause exclusively non-bloody diarrhea?
Viruses: rotavirus, norovirus, hepatitis A/E
Giardia
Staph aureus
Bacillus cereus
Cryptosporidiosis
Scombroid (histamine fish poisoning)
What history should raise suspicion for Giardia infection? What’s the testing and treatment?
Camping, hiking, and contact w/ feces (changing diapers, sexual contact, etc.)
Test: stool ELISA antigen >90% sensitive/specific (better than O&P)
Tx: metronidazole or tinidazole