Gastroenterology Flashcards
describe each of these 5 structural abnormalities that cause dysphagia
a. pharyngeal pouch
b. oesophagitis (types)
c. benign strictures
d. malignant strictures
e. extrinsic pressure (causes)
a. pharyngeal pouch: pouch forms off oesophagus, food gets stuck in so does not move down oesophagus as normal
b. oesophagitis (types): reflux (due to acid reflux or candida), infective
c. benign strictures: scarring of oesophagus due to acid reflux/ endoscopy
d. malignant strictures: cancer
e. extrinsic pressure (causes): thyroid goitre, aortic aneurysm, lung cancer, lymph nodes
define
a. dysphagia
b. odynophagia
a. dysphagia: difficulty swallowing
b. odynophagia: pain on swallowing
describe these 6 motility disorders that occur with dysphagia
a. achalasia
b. oesophageal spasm
c. bulbar palsy (eg MND) / pseudobular palsy (eg stroke)
d. systemic sclerosis
e. Chagas’ disease
a. achalasia: Auerbach’s/myenteric plexus in oesophageal muscle does not work –> no control of peristalsis –> sphincter does not relax –> no passing of food to stomach
b. oesophageal spasm: unco-ordinated peristalsis
c. bulbar palsy (eg MND) / pseudobular palsy (eg stroke): lesion along upper/lower motorneurone to throat
d. systemic sclerosis: fibrosis (scar tissue)
e. Chagas’ disease: destruction of ANS plexus due to parasitic infection
difference in symptoms between achalasia and spasm
achalasia pain is constant, spasm comes and goes
what does GORD stand for and what is it
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
dysfunction of the lower oesophageal sphincter predisposing to the reflux of gastric acid up in to the oesophagus
7 risk factors for GORD and explain
- pregnancy
- obesity: both inc intra-abdominal pressure on oesophagus
- alcohol: blocks Ca2+ channels –> relaxes sphincter muscles
- smoking: alc and smoking are irritants –> inc gastric acid secretion
- hiatus hernia: top bit of stomach hooks up through diaphragm –> lower pressure in diaphragm, acid can come upwards
- helicobacter pylori
- anticholinergic medications eg bladder relaxants
5 GORD symptoms
- heartburn
- odynophagia (painful swallowing)
- waterbrash (excessive salivation)
- acid brash (acid/ bile regurgitation/taste)
- belching
4 characteristics of heartburn
- discomfort
- radiation of pain towards mouth
- after meals/racumbency (lying down)
- relief with antacid use
order of preference of 3 types of GORD management
- lifestyle measures
- medication
- OGD (endoscopy)
7 lifestyle management techniques for GORD
- weight loss
- smoking cessation
- alcohol cessation
- small regular meals
- raise the head of the bed
- avoid eating just before bed
3 types of GORD medication and why they work
- antacids eg gaviscon: neutralises acid
- proton pump inhibitors eg omeprazole, lansoprazole. inhibit proton pump in gastric acid production
- H2 antagonists eg ranitidine: block histamine receptors on parietal cells
what is barretts oesophagus
metaplastic change of distal oesophageal epithelium from squamous to columnar type when the lower oesophagus tries to protect itself from gastric acid in GORD–> upwards migration of squamocolumnar junction
-inc risk of adenocarcinoma development
management of barret’s oesophagus
- yearly endoscopic surveillance and biopsy
- if dysplastic changes found, affected tissue is removed by oesophageal resection/ mucosal ablation
are gastric GU or duodenal ulcers DU more common? by how much
duodenal ulcers 4x more common
where do gastric ulcers occur and why
lesser curvature of stomach
more motile and more exposed to acid (ulcers elsewhere on stomach are suspicous)
3 symptoms of gastric ulcers
- epigastric pain after (GU) or before (DU) meals, relief with antacids
- heartburn
- postprandial epigastric discomfort and fullness, belching, early satiety, nausea
7 causes of peptic ulcer disease
- infection (helicobacter pylori)
- drugs (NSAIDS, steroids, bisphosphonates- inhibit prostaglandins)
- hormonal (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (tumour of pancreas, secretes gastrin), gastrinoma
- alcohol
- smoking
- stress
- blood group O
structure of helicobacter pylori
gram negative bascilli
4 aspects of intestinal/mucosal physiology affected by helicobacter pylori
- inc gastric acid secretion
- gastric metaplasia
- immune response
- mucosal defense mechanisms
2 enzymes released by h pylori and what they do
- urease. converts urea –> CO2 + ammonia to neutralise pH and protect itself BUT bad for gastric epithelium
- protease. damages our barrier system
what are the symptoms of peptic ulcer disease
ALARMS
- Anaemia
- loss of weight
- anorexia
- recent onset, progressive symptoms
- melaena or haematemesis
- swallowing difficulties
2 investigations of peptic ulcers
- endoscopy
- helicobacter pylori detection
4 ways to detect h pylori
- breath test (breathe in urea, if there is h pylori you breathe out CO2)
- stoll antigen
- serology
- biopsy
5 treatments of peptic ulcer disease
-lifestyle adjustment
-cessation of causative medication
-h pylori eradication
-ppis
H2 antagonists
when is a peptic ulcer v serious
if it bursts through stomach –> stomach enzymes break down internal organs
2 signs of upper GI bleeding
- haematemesis (vomiting blood)
- melaena (black stools due to inclusion of blood)