Gastroenterology Flashcards
What are the causes of bloody diarrhoea?
Vascular: Ischaemic colitis
Infective: Campy, shigella, salmonella, E. coli,
Inflamm: UC/Crohns
Neoplastic
What is the most concerning complication of C. dif diarrhoea, and what are its further complications?
Pseudomembranous colitis (abdo pain, bloody diarrhoea, fever)
May lead to paralytic ileus, toxic megacolon and multi organ failure
What are the causes of constipation?
OPENED IT
Obstruction (mechanical or pseudo obstruction (post op ileus)) Pain - fissure Endocrine(T4)/Electrolytes (low Ca/K) Neuro - MS, Cauda Equina Elderly Diet/Dehydration IBS Toxins - Opiates, anti mACh
Give two osmotic laxatives
Lactulose
MgSO4 (fast acting)
Give four stimulant laxatives
Bisacodyl
Senna
Docusate
Sodium picosulphate (rapid)
What are the ROME criteria and what are they used for?
Diagnostic criteria for IBS
Abdo discomfort for >12 weeks + 2 of:
Urgency Tenesmus Bloating PR mucous Worse after food
What are the ROME criteria exclusion criteria?
Weight loss Bloody stool Anorexia >40 years old Diarrhoea at night
What are the causes of dysphagia?
Inflammatory, mechanical, motility
Inflamm: Tonsil/oseophagitis, candidiasis, aphthous ulcers
Mechanical: May be:
Luminal: FB
Mural: Benign web, oseophagitis, malignancy, pharyngeal pouch
Extramural: Lung Ca, hiatus, LNs, retrosternal goitre
Motility: May be:
Local: Achalasia, oesophageal spasm, (pseudo)bulbar palsy
Systemic: CREST, MG
Dx Dysphagisa for solids and liquids at the start
Motility disorder, commonly achalasia
Dx Dysphagia solids>liquids at start
Stricture
Dx Dysphagia difficulty making swallowing movement
(Pseudo)bulbar palsy
Dx Odynophagia
Ca, ulcer, spasm
Dx intermittent dysphagia
Oesophageal spasm
Dx constant worsening dysphagia
Malignant stricture
Dx dysphagia with neck bulging/gurgling on drinking
Pharyngeal pouch
What investigations might you do for dysphagia/
Bloods - FBC, UnE CXR OGD Barium swallow +- video fluoroscopy Oesophageal manometry
What are some secondary causes of achalasia?
Oesophageal cancer
Chagas disease - Trypanosoma cruzii
What is the management of achalasia?
Medical: CCBs, nitrates
Interventional: Endoscopic ballooning, botulinum
Surgical: Heller’s cardiomyotomy
What is Killian’s dehiscence?
The defect in the oesophagus which causes a pharyngeal pouch
What are the alarm symptoms associated with dyspepsia?
ALARMS
Anorexia Loss of weight Anaemia Recent onset progression Melaena/haematemesis Swallowing difficulty
What is the management of new onset dyspepsia?
OGD if >55 or ALARMS Conservative measures for 4 weeks H. pyori test if no improvement If +ve then eradication therapy (PPI, Amox, Clari for 7 days) If -ve then 4 week PPI trial
What are some distinguishing features between gastric and duodenal ulcers?
Gastric ulcer pain is worsened on eating, and may also cause weight loss
What are some potential complications of peptic ulcer disease?
Haemorrhage
Perforation
Gastric outflow obstruction
Malignancy
What is the management approach to PUD?
Conservative: Wt loss, stop smoking, less EtOH, dietary stuff, stop NSAIDs, OTC antacids
Medical: PPIs, H pylori eradication, H2 antagonists
Surgical: Vagotomy/antrectomy
What is the cellular progression from GORD to cancer?
GORD -> Barrets oesophagus (squamous metaplasia to columnar epithelium) -> dysplasia -> adenocarcinoma
What is the surgical management for GORD?
Nissen fundoplication
Which type of hiatus hernia is more common?
Sliding (80%)
What are the differentials for haematemesis?
VINTAGE
Varices Inflammation - PUD Neoplasia Trauma - Mallory Weiss/Boerhaave's Angiodysplasia Generalised bleeding diatheses Epistaxis
Rectal bleeding differentials?
DRIPING Arse
Diverticule Rectal - haemorrhoids Infection - Campy, shigella, E coli, C dif Polyps Inflammation - IBD Neoplasia Gastric bleeding Angio - Ischaemic colitis, HHT
What is the Rockall score?
Prediction of re-bleed and mortality following upper GI bleed
What are the causes of portal hypertension?
Pre hepatic - Portal vein thrombosis
Hepatic - Cirrhosis
Post hepatic - Budd Chiari, RHF, pericarditis
What is the management approach for an upper GI bleed?
Resuscitate - Head down, O2, IV access + fluids, bloods
Blood products if still shocked
Variceal management: Terlipressin IV + Ciprofloxacin
Maintenance: Fluids, CVP, correct coagulopathy, thiamine if EtOH
Endoscopy if severe bleed
What are the pre-hepatic causes of jaundice?
Haemolytic anaemia
Ineffective erythropoiesis - e.g. thalassaemia
What are the hepatic causes of jaundice?
Unconjugated:
Contrast agents, CCF, Hypothyroid, Gilberts, C-N synd
Conjugated:
Hepatocellular dysfunction -
Congenital - Wilsons, a1atd
What are the post hepatic causes of jaundice?
Stones Pancreatic cancer Drugs PBC/PSC Biliary atresia Choledochal cyst Cholangiocarcinoma
What are the iatrogenic causes of jaundice?
Haemolysis - Antimalarials
Hepatitis - Paracetamol, valproate, statins
Cholestasis - Fluclox, coamox, COCP
What are the causes of liver failure?
Cirrhosis Infection - Hep/CMV/EBV Toxins - EtOH, Paracetamol, Isoniazid Vascular - Budd Chiari Obstetric - Eclampsia, acute fatty liver Others - Wilsons, AIH
What are the signs of liver failure?
Jaundice Oedema/ascites Bruising Encephalopathy (asterixis) Fetor hepaticus Spider naevi JVP Caput medusae
What blood results would you find in liver failure?
FBC - Infection, microcytosis if EtOH UnE - Low urea (hepatic synthesis) with raised Cr (hepatorenal syndrome) LFTs: AST:ALT >2 = EtOH AST:ALT <1 = Viral Hypoalbuminaemia (chronic) Raised PT (acute) Clotting - INR raised ABG - metabolic acidosis
What is the pathophysiology of hepatorenal syndrome and when is it seen?
Seen in advanced chronic liver failure, where cirrhosis causes splanchic vessel dilatation ->RAS activation -> Renal artery vasoconstriction. Persistent underfilling of the renal circulation leads to renal failure
What are the complications and preventative measures for each - of liver failure?
Bleeding - Vit K, platelets, FFP, blood
Sepsis - Tazocin
Ascites - Fluid + salt restrict, spiro, furosemide, ascitic tap, daily weights
Hypoglycaemia - regular BMs
Encephalopathy - Monitor, avoid sedatives, lactulose, rifamixin
Seizures - Lorazepam
Cerebral oedema - Mannitol
How does rifamixin work for hepatic encephalopathy?
Reduces ammonia production by gut flora
What are the examination findings in cirrhosis?
Hands - Dupuytrens contractures, clubbing, Terrys nails (white), palmar erythema, leukonychia (white flecks)
Face - Palor, Xanthelesma, parotid enlargement (EtOH)
Trunk - Spider naevi, gynaecomastia
Abdo - Striae, caput medisae, hepSplenomegaly, testicular atrophy
What are some possible complications of cirrhosis?
Decompensation - jaundice, encephalopathy, hypoalbuminaemia, coagulopathy, hypoglycaemia
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (ascitic fluid infection)
Portal hypertension - SAVE Splenomegaly Ascites Varices Encephalopathy
HCC
What investigations might you do to find the SPECIFIC cause of cirrhosis?
EtOH - FBC, LFT NASH - hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycaemia Infection - serology Genetic - ferritin, a1at, caeruloplasmin (low in Wilson's) AIH - SMA, ANA PBC - AMA PSC - ANCA, ANA Cancer - alpha-fetoprotein
What specific management options are available for cirrhosis caused by:
HCV
PBC
Wilson’s
Interferon-alpha
Ursodeoxycholic acid
Penicillamine
What are the components of the Child Pugh score and what is it used for?
Used to assess prognosis in cirrhosis
Bilirubin Albumin INR Ascites Encephalopathy
What are the features of hepatic encephalopathy?
ACDCS
Asterixis, Ataxia Confusion Dysarthria Constructional apraxia Seizures
How would you differentiate ascites due to portal HTN from other causes?
Serum Ascites Albumin Gradient
> 1.1 = Portal HTN < 1.1 = Other causes Neoplasia Inflammation - pancreatitis Nephrotic syndrome Infection - TB peritonitis
What are some complications of chronic alcohol use?
Cirrhosis
GI - gastritis, PUD, varices, pancreatitis, carcinoma
Neuro - Wernickes, Korsakoffs, peripheral neuropathy
Cardio - arrhythmias, DCM, HTN
Blood - Microcytosis, folate def
What is the role of each medical management of alcoholism?
Baclofen - reduces cravings
Disulfaram - Hangover inducer
Acamprosate - reduces cravings
What are the features of the three phases of viral hepatitis?
Prodrome, Icteric, Chronic
Prodrome: Flu, malaise, arthralgia
Icteric - Acute jaundice, abdo pain, hepmegaly, cholestatic picture, rash
Chronic - Cirrhosis w. HCC risk
Which viral hepatitis has the poorest long term prognosis in terms of complications?
Hep C - 80% develop chronic disease and 20% get cirrhosis
What is the relationship between NASH and NAFLD?
NASH is the severe form of NASH
How might NAFLD present?
Commonly silent
Hepmegaly + RUQ pain
Metabolic syndrome (as it is a risk factor)
What are the causes of Budd Chiari syndrome?
Hypercoagulable states - myeloproliferative disorders, paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, anti-phospholipid, OCP
Local tumour - commonly HCC
Congenital
What is the presentation of BC syndrome?
RUQ pain
Hepmegaly
Ascites (SAAG >1.1)
Jaundice
What is the pathophysiology of hereditary haemochromatosis?
Increased iron absorption leads to deposition in multiple organs
What are the features of hereditary haemochromatosis?
MEALS
Myocardial - DCM, arrhythmia Endocrine - DM, hypogonadism, hypocalcaemia Arthritis - big and small Liver - CLD/cirrhosis/HCC, hepmegaly Skin - slate grey
What are the blood findings in hereditary haemochromatosis (HH)?
Deranged LFTs Raised ferritin Raised Iron Reduced TIBC Hyperglycaemia
What is the management of HH
1st line:Venesection (aim Hct < 0.5)
2nd: Desferroxamine
General - Monitor DM, low Fe diet, screening
What are the two main features of A1At deficiency?
Cirrhosis
Emphysema
What are the features of Wilson’s disease?
CLANK
Cornea - Kayser Fleischer Liver - Cirrhosis/fluminant necrosis Arthritis Neuro - Parkinsonism, psych, cerebellar syndrome Kidney - Fanconi syndrome
What investigations would you do for Wilson’s disease and what are the results?
Blood - low Cu, low caeruloplasmin (acute phase reactant)
Raised 24hr urinary Cu
Raised hepatic Cu on biopsy
What (and when) is the presentation of autoimmune hepatitis?
Mostly teens and early twenties - Constitutional - fever, malaise, fatigue Cushingoid - hirsute, acne, striae Hepatitis HSM Polyarthritis
May also resent post-menopausally but more insidiously
What is the management and prognosis of AIH?
Pred + Azathioprine
Remission in 80% of patients
What is the difference between the pathophysiology of PSC and PBC?
PBC is intrahepatic bile duct destruction only, while PSC also affects extrahepatic ducts
True or false, PBC is more common in men and PSC more-so in women
False - PBC is 9x more common in women, while PSC is more commonly seen in men
What are the presenting features of PBC?
PPBBCCS
Pruritis Pigmentation (facial) Bones - osteomalacia+porosis Big organs - HSM Cirrhosis + coagulopathy Cholesterol - Xanthelasma +xanthomata Steatorrhoea
What are the features of PSC?
Obstructive jaundice, pruritis, abdo pain, HSM, Cholangiocarcinoma (^Risk)
Which is UC associated with? PSC or PBC
PSC - 3% of UC have PSC but 80% of PSC have UC
Which disorders are associated with PBC?
Thyroid disease
CTDs
Coeliac
Which antibodies are seen in PBC and PSC?
PBC - AMA (98%)
PSC - pANCA (80%)
What is the management of PBC and PSC?
Symptomatic:
Pruritis - colestyramine, naltrexone
Diarrhoea - Codeine
Osteoporosis (PBC) - Bisphosphonates
Specific:
ADEK vitamins
Ursodeoxycholic acid
Abx for PSC cholangitis
Liver transplant
Screening PSC - Cholangiocarcinoma (USS and Ca19-9) and Colorectal
What is the prognosis of PBC?
Once jaundice develops, survival is 2 years