GASTROENTEROLOGY Flashcards
What is Acute Pancreatitis?
Leakage of pancreatic enzymes that auto digest the pancreas
What are the causes of acute pancreatitis?
I GET SMASHED
Idiopathic Gallstones Ethanol Trauma Steroids Mumps virus (also Coxsackie B) AI (e.g. polyarteritis nodosa) Scorpion stings Hypertryglyceridaemia/Hypercalcaemia/Hypothermia ERCP Drugs Azothiprine Mesalazine Bendroflumethiazide Furosemide Valproate GLP-1 agonists: -tides
OR
PANCREATITIS
Posterior peptic ulcer rupture Alcohol Neoplasm Cholesthiasis, cholecystectomy, increased calcium Renal disease ERCP Anorexia Toxins Incineration Trauma Infections Scorpion stings
What are the symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis?
Severe epigastric pain: Steady Boring Radiates to back Relieved by sitting forward Nausea and vomiting Weakness Low-grade fever Shock due to loss of fluid in peripancreatic third space
What are the signs of Acute Pancreatitis?
Low grade fever
Tachycardia
Hypovolaemia due to oedema and fluid shifting-shock
Abdominal tenderness (no guarding or rebound)
Diminished sounds from a localised ileus
Haemorrhage:
Grey turner’s: bleeding into the peritoneum
Cullen’s: methemalbumin formed from digested blood tracks around the abdomen from the inflamed pancreas
Jaundice is rare
Can rarely cause ischaemic (Purtscher) retinopathy causing temporary of permanent blindness
What is the sequalae of pancreatitis?
- Pancreatic fluid collections
- Psuedocysts
- Pancreatic abscess
- Pancreatic necrosis
- Haemorrhage
What are pancreatic fluid collections?
Located on or near the pancreas and lack a wall of granulation or fibrous tissue
May resolve or develop into pseudocysts or abscesses
Aspiration should be avoided in case of infection
What are pancreatic psuedocysts?
Result from organisation of peripancreatic fluid collection, may or may not communicate with ductal system
Usually retrogastric
Walled by fibrous or granulation tissue
Within 4 weeks or more
What are pancreatic abscesses?
Intra abdominal collection of pus in the absence of necrosis
Result of an infected pseudocyst
What is pancreatic necrosis?
May involve parenchyma and surrounding fat
Complications directly linked to the extent
May degrade into vasculatur and cause haemorrhage
What are the investigations for Acute Pancreatitis?
Elevated (3x normal range or >1000u/ml) SERUM AMYLASE during first 24 hours
Initially increases 2-6 hours after onset of pain, does not correlate to disease severity
Elevated LIPASE is more specific and sensitive
Abdominal X-RAY
SENTINEL loop: isolated, dilated loop of bowel caused by irritation of the adjacent bowel
COLON CUTOFF: gaseous distention in proximal colon due to narrowing at the splenic fracture
Chest x-ray: left sided exudative pleural effusion
CT and USS: Peripancreatic fluid
Pancreatic calcifications
What is are the severity scores for Acute Pancreatitis?
Glasgow score:
PaO2: <8kPa Age: >55yr Nuetrophilia: >15x10’/L Calcium (hypocalcaemia): <2mmol/L Renal function: Urea >16 mmol/L Enzymes: LDH >600, AST >200 Albumin: <32g/L Sugar: Blood glucose >10mmol/L
How is Acute Pancreatitis managed?
IV fluids Bowel rest ?Parentral nutrition NG decompression Abx (controversial) Analgesia Surgical debridement if peripancreatic fluid Surgery/ERCP for gallstones If infected necrosis Radiological drainage Surgical necrosectomy
What are the complications of acute pancreatitis?
Pulmonary complications:
- Pleural effusions
- Atelectasis
- Mediastinal abscess
- ARDS
Psuedocyst: circumscribed collection of fluid rich in pancreatic enzymes, blood and necrotic tissue located in the lesser sac of the abdomen.
Chronic pancreatitis
Splenic vein thrombosis
Pancreatic cancer if multiple episodes
What is Chronic Pancreatitis?
Chronic inflammation of the pancreas affecting endocrine and exocrine function
What causes Chronic Pancreatitis?
80% is alcoholism
What are the symptoms of Chronic Pancreatitis?
- Recurrent epigastric pain
- Constipation
- Steatorrhoea (symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency usually develop 5-25 years after pain)
- Flatulence
- Weight loss
- Vitamins ADEK deficiency
What are the investigations for Chronic Pancreatitis?
Mildly elevated amylase and lipase (although can be normal) STOOL ELASTASE (<200mcg/g) Serum TRYPSINOGEN (<20ng/mL) Glycosuria Abdominal X-RAY MRCP or endoscopic USS CT for pancreatic calcification
How is Chronic Pancreatitis managed?
Alcohol cessation Low fat diet Oral pancreatic enzymes: Lipase before, during and after meals PPIs Vitamins ADEK and B12 if alcoholic Analgesia Steroids if AI
What are the complications of Chronic Pancreatitis?
Diabetes mellitus-usually after >20 years
Analgesia addiction
Exocrine and endocrine insufficiency
Ductal obstruction
Pseudocyst
Increased risk of pancreatic cancer
Gastric varices
What is the MC Pancreatic Cancer?
85% are pancreatic adenocarcinoma
What are the causes of Pancreatic Cancer?
Age Smoking Diabetes Chronic pancreatitis (not alcohol) Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma MEN BRCA 2 gene
What are the symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?
Anorexia
Weight loss
VOMITING AFTER MEALS due to GASTRIC OUTLET OBSTRUCTION
Epigastric PAIN and atypical back pain-body and tail tumours
STEATORRHOEA (loss of exocrine function)
What are the signs of Pancreatic Cancer?
Painless jaundice-Head of pancreas tumours TROUSSEAU'S sign: migratory thrombophlebitis (vessel inflammation due to blood clot) Diabetes Palpable gallbladder Epigastric mass Hepatosplenomegaly Lymphadenopathy Ascites
What are the investigations for Pancreatic Cancer?
USS
High-res CT
show pancreatic pass with dilated biliary tree and hepatic metastases
How is Pancreatic Cancer managed?
<20% are suitable for surgery at diagnosis
Whipple’s resection: PANCREATICODUODENECTOMY is performed for resectable lesions in the head of the pancreas
Adjuvant chemotherapy
ERCP with stent palliative
What is an Insulinoma?
90% are benign pancreatic B islet cell tumours
What causes Insulinomas?
Sporadic
MEN-1
What are the signs of Insulinomas?
Whipple’s triad:
- Symptoms associated with fasting or exercise
- Recorded hypoglycaemia with symptoms
- Symptoms relieved by glucose
What are the investigations for Insulinomas?
Screening test: HYPOGLYCAEMIA and INCREASED PLASMA INSULIN
Suppressive tests: give INSULIN and measure C-PEPTIDE, NO SUPPRESSION of c-peptide from exogenous insulin
CT/MRI + endoscopic USS
How are Insulinomas managed?
Excision
What are Glucagonomas?
Rare tumour of alpha cells of the pancreas, usually CANCEROUS and METASTATIC
What causes Glucagonomas?
Sporadic
MEN-1
What are the signs of Glucagonomas?
- Overproduction of glucagon leading to INCREASED BLOOD GLUCOSE levels including gluconeogenesis and lipolysis
- NECROLYTIC MIGRATORY ERYTHEMA (NME) is presenting problem in 70% of cases:
Erythmatous blisters and swelling across friction areas (e.g. abdomen, buttocks, perineum and groin). - DIABETES MELLITUS
How are Glucagonomas managed?
Treat octerotide, somatostatin analog which inhibits glucagon release
Doxorubicin and streptozotocin (chemotherapies) selectively damage alpha cells
Surgical resection
What is Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?
Excessive levels of GASTRIN resulting from a gastrin secreting ADENOMA (GASTRINOMA) of the pancreas (or duodenum)
60% are malignant
What causes Zollinger-Ellison?
MEN-1
Sporadic
What are the signs of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome?
Multiple gastroducodenal ulcers
- Abdominal pain
- Dyspepsia
Chronic diarrhoea due to inactivation of pancreatic enzymes
Malabsorption
What are the investigations for Zollinger-Ellison?
Fasting gastric levels
Secretin stimulation test
How is Zollinger-Ellison managed?
High-dose PPIs e.g. Omeprazole 60mg/d
Octreotide: synthetic somatostatin
What is Diverticulosis?
HERNIATION of colonic MUCOSA through the muscle wall at a TAENIA COLI (where vessels pierce the muscle to supply the mucosa) often due to LACK OF DIETRY FIBRE
95% are in the sigmoid colon and the rectum is spare as it doesn’t have Taenia Coli
What is Diverticular disease?
Symptomatic diverticulosis
- Colicky L sided pain
- Change in bowel habits
- Bleeding
treat with high fibre
What is Diverticulitis?
When a diverticular becomes inflamed and infected
- LIF pain and tenderness
- Anorexia
- N+V+D+Flatulence
- Infection: pyrexia, raised CRP and WCC
How is Diverticulitis managed?
Mild: Oral Abx
Severe: IV Abx (Cephalosporin C. Dif and metronidazole)
Haartmann’s if perforated: temporary colonostomy and partial colectomy
What are the complications of Diverticulitis?
Haemorrhage
Fistula:
- Enterocolic
- Colovaginal
- Colovesicle
Abscess: swinging fever, boggy rectal mass, drain rectally
Obstruction-strictures
Jejunal diverticulosis is a cause of malnutrition
Perforation: ileus, shock, peritonitis
What investigations should be done in suspected Diverticulitis?
- Abdominal CT
- Colonoscopy
- Barium enema
What is the Hinchey Classification?
Describes colonic perforation due to diverticulitis
I- Para-colonic abscess
II- Pelvic abscess
III- Purulent peritonitis
IV- Faecal peritonitis
Laproscopic washout and drainage
What are the causes of Mallory-Weiss tears?
Retching Vomiting Coughing Straining Chronic hiccoughs Brunt NG tube
Increased abdominal pressure, large transient increase in transmural pressure across the gastro-oesophageal junction
Acute distention (non-distensible distal oesophagus)
Shearing forcs > transmural pressure gradient, M-W tear and rupture of SUBMUCOSAL ARTERIES
What are Mallory-Weiss tears?
Superficial mucosal tear at GOJ or proximal stomach causing RUPTURE OF SUBMUCOSAL ARTERIES
How do Mallory-Weiss tears present?
Blood oxidased:
- Coffee-ground emesis
- Malena
Systemic Blood loss:
- Tachycardia
- HoTN
- Anaemia
- Presyncope/syncooe
Rapid non-oxidised blood loss:
- Haematemesis
- Haemachetzia
What is Boorhaave’s syndrome?
Perforation: of full-thickness rupture posterolateral oesophagus just above the diagraphm
What are the causes of Boorhaave’s?
Iatrogenic from endoscopy
Severe vomiting
How does Boorhaave’s syndrome present?
Mackler’s triad:
- Vomit
- Subcutaneous emphesema
- Chest pain
Severe retrosternal pain
Respiratory distress
How is Boorhaave’s syndrome managed?
- Group and save
- CXR- pneumomediastinum
- CT will show contrast leaking into mediastinum
Surgery if unstable/spontaneous to decompress oesophagus, stop the leak and eradicate pleural and mediastinal contamination
- Give Abx and antifungals
- NBM 1-2 weeks insertion of NG tube, TPN or feeding jejunostomy
- Large-bore chest pain
Where are bowel cancers found?
What surgical intervention is done for them?
15% Ascending colon and caecum
Right hemicolectomy with ileo-colic anastomosis
10% Transverse colon
R/L hemicolectomy
5% Descending colon
Left hemicolectomy
colo-colon anastamosis
30% Sigmod colon
High anterior resection + TME (Total Mucosal Excision)
Colorectal anastamosis
40% Rectum
Low anterior resection + low TME
Colorectal anastamosis
Anal Verge
abdominal-perianal excision of rectum with no anastamosis
What are the criteria to refer via the 2 week wait?
> 40 + unexplained weight loss + abdominal pain
<50 with rectal bleeding plus any of:
- abdominal pain
- change in bowel habits
- weight loss
- iron deficiency anaemia
> 50 unexplained rectal bleeding
> 60 iron deficiency anaemia + change in bowel habit
occult blood in faeces (screen everyone 60-74)
rectal abdominal mass
unexplained anal mass or ulcer
What is Duke’s staging?
A Tumour confined to mucosa
B Invaded bowel wall
C Lymph metastases
D Distant metastases
(T1+T2/N0 requires no radiation, T4 long corse of R+C)
What are the risk factors for Gastric Cancer?
Blood group A Gastric adenomatous POLYPS HY. PYLORI Ulceration (-vely associated with duodenal ulcers) PERNICIOUS anaemia SMOKING Diet: salt, spice, nitrates
M>F ~70-80y/o
How does Gastric Cancer present?
- N&V
- Dyspepsia
- Anorexia and weight loss
- Dysphagia
How is Gastric Cancer investigated?
U.GI endoscopy with Biopsy
MOST COMMONLY IN THE CARDIA
SIGNET RING CELLS- CONATIN LARGE VACUOLE OF MUCIN WHICH DISPLACES NUCLEUS TO ONE SIDE
CT to stage
What is Hepatic Encephalopathy?
Due to excess AMMONIA and GLUTAMINE in bacterial break down in the gut
Usually Acute
What are the causes of Hepatic Encephalopathy?
GI bleed
Infection (SBP)
Constipation
Renal failure
High protein
Low K+
Drugs:
- sedatives
DIURETICS
What are the features of Hepatic Encephalopathy?
Confusion, reduced GCS
Asterixis Flap (Arrhytmic -ve myoclonus 2-5Hz)
Constructional Apraxia (can’t draw 5pt star)
Triphasic slow waves EEG
What are the grades of Hepatic Encephalopathy?
I-Irratible
II-Confusion and inappropriate behaviour
III-Incoherence and restless
IV-Coma
How is Hepatic Encephalopathy managed?
Give Lactulose which increases ammonia secretion and metabolism
Liver transplant
Porto-systemic shunt
What can cause Small Bowel Obstruction?
Adhesions from past surgery Barbed structures Hernias Congenital issues Gallstone ileus Caecal volvulus
How does Small Bowel Obstruction present?
Vomiting then constipation
Central and mid abdominal pain
Shorter spasms of pain
What is seen on AXR in Small Bowel Obstruction?
- Central gas shadows
- Valvulae commitantes completely cross the lumen
- Gas absent in large bowel
Oral gastrografin can detect partial obstructions
What can cause Small and Large Bowel Obstruction?
Foreign bodies
Intusseception
Crohn’s strictures
TB
How does Bowel Obstruction present?
Vomiting
- Faeculent
Colicky pain
Distention-progresses
Constipation
‘Tinkling’ bowel sounds
What can cause Large Bowel obstruction?
Colorectal carcinoma
Diverticular strictures
Constipation
Volvulus
How does Large Bowel Obstruction present?
Less likely to vomit, can be faecal
Lower abdominal pain with longer spasms that are more constant
Constipation starts earlier