Gastroenterology Flashcards
What are the indications for an EGD?
Evaluation of GI bleeding, evaluation of dyspepsia. Placement of PEG tube.
What is a potential severe complication of ERCP?
Pancreatitis occurs in 2-5% of patients (severe in <0.2%)
What is the first test usually performed in the workup of dysphagia?
EGD is generally done first. Barium swallow may be done first in those with hx of radiation, strictures, lye ingestion
What is the preferred treatment for achalasia?
Endoscopic balloon myotomy. Surgical myotomy or Botox are alternative treatments.
Esophageal neurologic dysfunction presents with what symptoms?
Equal solid and liquid dysphagia from the beginning of symptoms
What is the most important part of therapy for diffuse esophageal spasm?
Reassurance. First line drug treatments include diltiazem or imipramine.
What type of problem causes slowly progressive for solids and then liquids?
Anatomic narrowing of esophagus from stricture or mass (intrinsic or extrinsic)
What is the likely cause of anatomic obstruction of the esophagus in younger patients? In older patients?
Schatzki ring in younger. Malignancy in older.
What anatomic problem causes slowly progressive, intermittent dysphagia to solid food?
Schatzki ring. Esophageal stricture may be slowly progressive and affect solid foods, but it is less likely to be intermittent.
What is the LES pressure in patients with dysphagia due to systemic sclerosis?
LES pressure is low in SSc leading to GERD which combines with dysmotility to cause symptoms.
Which drugs interact with PPIs?
Levothyroxine, ketoconazole, itraconazole - effectiveness may be reduced. Digoxin effect may be increased.
What is the clinical presentation of GERD?
Esophageal – heartburn, dyspepsia
Extra-esophageal – cough, vocal cord dysfunction, asthma, hoarseness
What are alarm signals in a patient with GERD symptoms? These indicate the need for what?
Alarm symptoms including weight loss, GI bleeding, nausea, dysphagia, elderly age, prolonged symptoms. These make EGD necessary.
Which diagnostic test may be helpful for atypical GERD?
pH probe with esophageal impedence
For how long is severe GERD treated? And with what?
Severe GERD should be treated indefinitely with a PPI
In patients with GERD which study must be done before anti-reflux surgery?
Esophageal manometry is needed before anti-reflux surgery
What is the pathologic definition of Barrett esophagus?
Change in esophageal epithelium from columnar to intestinal metaplasia
What cancer is associated with Barrett esophagus?
Adenocarcinoma of esophagus is associated with Barrett esophagus
What followup is indicated in patients with non-dysplastic Barrett esophagus?
Non-dysplastic Barrett esophagus should be followed with EGD every 3-5 years. Low-grade dysplasia should be followed in 6-12 months High-grade dysplasia requires 3 month follow up
What are the treatment options for Barrett esophagus with high-grade dysplasia?
Endoscopic mucosal resection, surgery
Discuss the differences between adeno- and squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
Squamous - proximal esophagus, associated with smoking and alcohol.
Adenocarcinoma – distal esophagus, associated with Barrett esophagus, more common than squamous cell.
Name the risk factors for esophageal cancer.
Smoking, alcohol, Barrett esophagus
What is the clinical presentation of dyspepsia?
Recurrent epigastric pain typically associated with eating. Types include: GERD-like Ulcer-like Dysmotility-like
What is the diagnostic/treatment approach to dyspepsia?
Stop NSAIDs
Test and treat H. pylori if present
Conduct PPI trial
EGD if alarm symptoms or failure of treatment
When do you test for H. pylori?
- prior history of PUD
- Current ulcer
- MALT lymphoma
- family history of gastric cancer
- “test and treat” those <55 even without alarm symptoms
What type of H. pylori test is not good for checking effectiveness of treatment?
Serology cannot determine eradication of H. pylori. It also has a baseline low PPV so is not currently recommended.
Is the CLOtest accurate is a patient is taking a PPI? What other H. pylori tests are affected by PPIs?
PPIs can interfere with all urease based testing including CLOTest and urea breath test. PPIs can also lower the sensitivity of fecal antigen testing. Antibiotics can also affect sensitivity of ureasebased testing.
Test characteristics:
Gold standard is histology evaluation of biopsy specimens
Urease based testing has sensitivity and sensativity of ~95/95%
Fecal antigen testing has sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 98%
Serologic testing is not recommended due to PPV <50%
What is the first line treatment regimen for H. pylori infection?
OCLAM - omeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin for 14 days.
What is the most common cause of peptic ulcer disease?
H. pylori accounts for the majority of PUD
What is the relationship between NSAIDs and PUD?
NSAIDs increase the risk of PUD and bleeding. ~25% of patients taking NSAIDs have evidence of erosions or superficial ulcers though most of these are asymptomatic.
How does smoking affect PUD?
Smoking increases risk of PUD and is synergistic with NSAIDs in causing ulcers.
What is the relationship of steroids to PUD? Alcohol?
Steroids do not cause ulcers but increase the risk of NSAID induced ulcers 10-fold. Alcohol intake does not cause ulcers.
How are peptic ulcers diagnosed? If perforated?
Via EGD. IF perforation is suspected upright CXR should be done to look for free air.
Name at least 3 indications for surgery in a patient with PUD.
Persistent bleeding, gastric outlet obstruction, perforation, recurrent or refractory ulcers,
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
What is the main cause of bleeding ulcers in the U.S.?
NSAIDs
Name 3 EGD findings that indicate increased risk for rebleed of a peptic ulcer.
Active bleeding at time of EGD, visible vessel, visible clot.
What is the most common presentation of ZES?
Diarrhea due to hypersecretion of gastric juice causing acidification of duodenum and inactivation of pancreatic enzymes as well as villous damage.
What is the usual cause of gastric carcinoid?
Excessive gastrin secretion
What are the 3 types of gastric carcinoid?
Type 1 - autoimmune gastritis/pernicious anemia
Type 2 - Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome associated with MEN
Type 3 - Sporadic (most aggressive type)
Carcinoids may be associated with which skin condition?
Vitiligo
What are the clinical and environmental risk factors for gastric cancer?
Clinical: Chronic H. pylori infection Metaplastic (chronic) atrophic gastritis Menetrier disease Adenomatous gastric polyps (rare) Environmental: Diet low in fruits and vegetables and high in dried foods, salty foods, and smoked foods Food low in nitrites and nitrates
What is the relationship of alcohol to gastric cancer?
Alcohol intake is not associated with a higher risk of gastric cancer
How do you rule out gastric cancer in a patient with a nonhealing ulcer?
Endoscopic biopsy
What are the symptoms of dumping syndrome?
Sympathetic symptoms after eating - sweating, palpitations, flushing, lightheadedness, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
What is the diagnostic workup of suspected gastroparesis?
Should start with ruling out gastric outlet obstruction then evaluate with gastric emptying study
What are the recommended treatments of gastroparesis?
Diet change to low fat, low fiber diet. Good glucose control. Frequent, small volume meals. Metoclopramide (may have long-term side effects). Domperidol commonly used outside of US. Erythromycin is not recommended for long-term use
When is colonoscopy contraindicated in IBD?
Colonoscopy in the presence of severe colitis increases risk of toxic megacolon.
Sulfasalazine is ineffective in what type of CD?
Sulfasalazine is ineffective in CD of the small bowel because it needs to be split in the colon into mesalamine (active metabolite) and sulfapyridine.
What is the most concerning side effect of prolonged metronidazole therapy?
Peripheral neuropathy may complicate prolonged use of metronidazole.
When is budesonide used for CD? For UC?
Budesonide is used in CD of the ileum or ileocecal region. A delayed-release form is useful for UC.
What are the indications for monoclonal antibodies in patients with IBD?
mAbs are indicated for moderate-to-severe CD, fistulous CD, or refractory UC
What is the relationship of CD to cancer?
There is an increased risk of cancer in prolonged CD and especially colonic CD. Anyone with CD >8 years should undergo colonoscopy every other year.
What are the colonoscopy and biopsy findings in CD?
Focal, skip, and deep lesions are the hallmark of CD. Granulomas, though pathognomonic, are uncommonly seen.
What is the significance of an “Apple core” lesion? How does it differ from the “string sign”?
The “string sign” is narrowing of the distal ileum from CD. If this happens elsewhere in the GI tract it would be called an “apple core” lesion and is more likely associated with
malignancy.
What GU complications of the terminal ileum can arise in a patient with Crohn’s?
Rectovaginal or rectovesicular fistula can complicate CD.
What is the usual etiology of diarrhea in CD patients with <100cm of the distal ileum removed? With >100cm of the distal ileum removed? What is the treatment for each?
Diarrhea in patients with <100cm of resected distal ileum is usually due to failure to absorb bile acids. This is treated with bile acid binders like cholestyramine and colestipol.
Diarrhea in those with >100cm of distal ileum resection is usually due to steatorrhea. This is treated with low-fat diet. If extra calories are needed these can be supplemented
with medium chain fatty acids.
What additional screening should be done in CD patients who have been treated with chronic steroids?
CD patients, especially on steroids, are at high risk for osteoporosis. Bone density screening is indicated annually.
What are the findings of UC on colonoscopy?
Uniform, contiguous, and shallow ulcers are seen on colonoscopy in UC.
What serologic marker may be found in 70-80% of patients with UC?
70-80% of patient with UC have positive p-ANCA
Describe the extra-intestinal manifestations of UC.
Arthritis, aphthous ulcers, ankylosing spondylitis (HLA B27), iritis/episcleritis/uveitis (HLA B27), primary sclerosing cholangitis (HLA 8), erythema nodosum, pyoderma
gangrenosum, venous thrombosis, pericholangitis
What is the relationship of UC to cancer?
There is a high risk of cancer in UC patients after 8 years of disease - 5-10% at 20 years and 12-20% at 50 years.
What is the treatment of UC with high-grade dysplagia?
Colectomy is indicated for dysplasia in a mass lesion and for high-grade dysplasia in a flat lesion.
What is the treatment of moderate-to-severe UC?
The optimal treatment for moderate-to-severe UC is oral steroids. For fulminant UC patient should be treated with IV steroids, infliximab, or cyclosporine. If fulminant UC
persists >48 hours colectomy may be needed.
Associate these buzzwords with UC or CD: a) tenesmus, b) rectal bleeding, c) fecal soiling,
and d) pneumaturia.
tenesmus = UC
rectal bleeding = UC
fecal soiling = CD (think fistula)
pneumaturia = CD
What are the 2 main categories of diarrhea?
Secretory and osmotic
What tests are done in the workup of acute diarrhea?
Stool culture, O&P, C. diff toxin, fecal WBCs or lactoferrin
What antibiotic is generally used for invasive diarrhea? Name 2 important exceptions.
Cipro is generally used. Use a macrolide for Campylobacter. Use metronidazole for amebiasis. Don’t treat salmonella as it may prolong infection. Antibiotics are
contraindicated in E. coli O157:H7.
Which cause of invasive diarrhea should not be treated with antibiotics?
E. coli O157:H7 (EHEC) should not be treated because this increases risk of HUS/TTP. Treatment of Salmonella with antibiotics may prolong infection.
What is the osmotic gap in patients with osmotic diarrhea?
Osmotic gap = stool osm – 2[stool Na + stool K]
Stool osm should always be ~290. If it is lower, suspect dilution of stool with water or urine.
Osmotic gap >50 is consistent with osmotic diarrhea.
How does a 24 hour fast affect osmotic diarrhea?
24 hour fast should reduce diarrhea by >50% in osmotic diarrhea.
In an AIDS patient with fever and diarrhea, what organisms are on your differential list?
In AIDS patient with diarrhea and fever think of mycobacterium, campylobacter, salmonella, cryptococcus, histoplasma, and CMV.
What tumor causes the majority of carcinoid syndrome cases?
Mid-gut carcinoids cause the majority of carcinoid syndrome.