Gastroenterology Flashcards
What is the normal range for transaminases?
Normal is <19 in females, and <30 in males
What liver tests are there?
Most liver tests are not tests of liver function. Tests include: bilirubin, AST and ALT (transaminases), GGT and ALP ( cholestatic enzymes), albumin, and INR. Only bilirubin, albumin, and INR are tests of liver function.
What is bilirubin?
Bilirubin is the breakdown product of RBCs after conjugation in the liver and secretion in the biliary system secretion.
What are the three catorgories of abnormal LFTs?
Hepatocellular (ALT and AST)
Cholestatic (predominant ALP elevation)
Infiltrative/mixed
What category of liver disease has an elevated bilirubin?
All categories of liver disease can have an elevated bilirubin
What are the causes of isolated hyper bilirubinaemia?
Congenital syndrome( eg Gilbert’s), RBC source ( eg heamolysis, intrabdominal bleeding)
What are the causes of an abnormal LFT test with raised ALTs and ASTs?
This is a predominantly hepatocellular pattern. It can be caused by: EtOH related liver diseases (acute and chronic), viral hepatitis, other infections (CMV, HIV, HSV, EBV, TB)’ non alcoholic hepatic steatosis, heamochromotosis, Wilson’s disease, alpha 1 anti trypsin deficiency, autoimmune hepatitis, drugs/toxins, cardiovascular pathology(including hypertension), drugs/toxins, HELLP syndrome, acute fatty liver of pregnancy, cardiac or muscular source.
What are the causes of predominantly cholestatic or infiltrative pattern of abnormal LFTs?
This presents with raised ALP. It can be caused by choledocholithiasis, malignancy (hepatocellular carcinoma, lymphoma, liver mets, biliary or pancreatic ca), primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, intrahepatic cholestatic of pregnancy, HIV, granulomatous disease (eg TB), drugs/toxins, non hepatic source (eg bone, renal, or intestinal source)
What causes dysphagia that has difficulty swallowing both liquids and solids from the start?
If there is difficulty swallowing liquids and fluids from the start then there motility disorder (achalasia, neurological)or pharyngeal causes.
What are the possible causes of dysphagia that first affect solids and then liquids?
Suspect a stricture (benign or malignant)
What sort of conditions make it difficult to make a swallowing movement in dysphagia?
Bulbar palsy makes it difficult to make the swallowing movement, and may also cause a cough on swallowing.
What conditions cause odynophagia (painful swallowing) in dysphagia?
Cancer, oesophageal ulcer or spasm can cause odynophagia on swallowing.
What sort of conditions cause intermittent dysphagia? What sort of conditions constant and worsening dysphagia?
Intermittent dysphagia should be suspected to be oesophageal spasm. Constant and worsening dysphagia should be suspected to be a malignant stricture.
What condition would cause the neck to bulge or gurgle on drinking in dysphagia?
One must suspect a pharyngeal pouch.
What investigations should be ordered in someone who is experiencing dysphagia?
FBC to check for aneamia, EUC to check for signs of dehydration, CXR to check the mediastinal fluid level, whether there is an absent gastric bubble, and signs of aspiration. Upper GI endoscopy plus or minus biopsy is usually the first investigation. Barium swallow plus or minus video fluoroscopy is useful to diagnose high dysphagia or dysmotility. Further investigations include oesophageal manometry (if normal barium swallow) ENT opinion if suspected pharyngeal cause.
What is achalasia?
Achalasia is when the lower oesophageal sphincter fails to relax ( due to degeneration of the myenteric plexus). Achalasia causes dysphagia, regurgitation, substernal cramps, and decreased weight. On barium swallow there is a dilated tapered oesophagus. Achalasia is treated using an endoscopic ballon dilatation and the proton pump inhibitors.
What is a benign oesophageal stricture?
A benign oesophageal stricture is caused by gastro oesophageal reflux disease, corrosives, surgery, or radiotherapy.
What is dyspepsia?
Dyspepsia is a symptom or a combination of symptoms that alerts a clinician to the presence of an upper GI problem. Typical symptoms include epigastric pain and burning, early satiety, and post prandial fullness, belching, bloating, nausea, or discomfort in the upper abdomen.
Which structures occur retroperitoneally?
SADPUCKER Suprarenal glands, Aorta/IVC, DuoDenum (second and fourth segments), pancreas (tail is intraperitoneal) Ureters, Colon (ascending and descending parts), Kidneys, Esophagus, Rectum
How long is the oesophagus?
25 cm long
What is the purpose of the duodenum?
The duodenum neutralises acid components entering from stomach via secretin and bicarbonate secretion.the duodenum also acts to stimulate bile secretin via cholecystokinin release.
What is the purpose of the jejunum?
The jejunum is responsible for the absorption of salt, water, and nutrients ( proteins, carbohydrates, fat, frolic acid, vit BCADEK
What is the purpose of the ilium?
The ileum is important as it absorbs water, salt, and nutrients. The ilium absorbs bile salt and is the only source of vitamin B12 absorption.
Whatbarenthe two sources of blood supply to the liver?
The hepatic artery (20-25%) of blood. The portal vein (70-75%)
What s the function of the pancreas?
The pancreas has both an endocrine and exocrine function. The endocrine function involve the islets of langerhan that produce insulin ( beta cells), glucagon (alpha) and somatostatin (delta cells). The exocrine function consists of digestive enzymes that include amylase, peptidase, lipase, carboxypeptidase, and chymotrypsin.
What is the differential diagnosis for nausea and vomiting that is accompanied by abdo pain that is not relived by vomiting?
Gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, hepatitis, infectious gastroenteritis.
What is the differential diagnosis of abdominal distension?
The differential diagnosis for abdominal distension can be summarised with the 6Fs. Fat, foetus, flatus, feces, fluid, fatal growth.
What are the causes of GORD?
- Inappropriate transient relaxations of the lower oesophageal sphincter
- low basal LES sphincter tone (especially in scleroderma)
- delayed oesophageal clearance, delayed gastric emptying, increased intrabdominal factors
- acid hyper secretion( such as in zollinger Ellison syndrome, rare)
Nb: a hiatus hernia worsens oesophageal reflux, but does not cause it
What are the symptoms or GORD?
Heartburn ( pyrosis), and acid regurgitation, bitter regurgitation/ waterbrash
What treatment is used for GORD?
GORD is most successfully treated with proton pump inhibitors(eg omeprazole) . It can also be treated with H2 receptor blockers and antacids (MG(OH)2), Al(OH)2), aliginate). Weightloss and diet can help
, as well as elevating the head of the bed.
What are the complications of GORD?
Barretts oesophagus, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, oesophageal stricture disease, ulcer, bleeding.
NB gastroscope is recommended for patients with chronic GORD and symptoms suggestive of complicated disease ( anorexia, weightloss, bleeding, dysphagia)
What is Barrets oesophagus?
Barrets oesophagus is a condition caused by the metaplasia of the normally squamous oesophageal to columnar epithelium. The metaplasia is thought to be caused by longstanding GORD. Diagnosis is made on an endoscopic biopsy. It is important to diagnose as Barrets predisposes to malignant transformation.
How is Barrets oesophagus treated?
Barrets oesophagus is treated with proton pump inhibitors. It can also be treated using radio frequency ablation techniques, preventative surgery, or oesophagectomy.
What is eosinophilic oesophagitis?
Eosinophilic oesophagitis is an inflammatory condition with the prominence of eosinophils upon biopsy. It is more common in children but can be found in adults. It causes dysphagia of solids, allergies are common, and first presentation may be to emergency with food impaction. Treat with corticosteroid spray ( eg fluticasone) or leukotriene inhibitors.
What is shatzki’s ring?
Shatzki’s ring is a mucosal ring at the squamo columnar junction above a hiatus hernia. It causes intermittent dysphagia with solids. Treatment involves disrupting the ring with endoscopic bougie.
What is infectious oesophagitis?
Infectious oesophagitis is a severe mucosal inflammation and ulceration as a result of viral or fungal infection. Risk factors for reflux oesophagitis include diabetes, malignancy, and immunocomprimised states. Symptoms include odynophagia and dysphagia. De is via endoscopy and biopsy. It is commonly caused by candida, herpes, or CMV
What do parietal cells secrete? What stimulates them?
Parietal cells secrete gastric acid (HCl) and intrinsic factor. They are stimulated by histamine, Ach and gastric.
What do chief cells secrete?
Chief cells secrete pepsinogin, which is stimulated by vagal input and local acid.
What is gastritis?
Gastritis is defined as the inflammation of the stomach mucosa. There are many different types of gastritis and there are many different causes, such as EtOH, Helicobacter pylori, aspirin, NSAIDS, bile, radiation injury, bacteria, viruses, coeliac disease etc. gastritis can be acute or chronic,
What is peptic ulcer disease?
Peptic ulcer disease consists of ulcers that penetrate the muscularis mucosa and can result in scarring, as opposed to erosion ( which is superficial to the muscularis mucosa this no scarring). Peptic ulcer disease includes defects located in the stomach and the duodenum.
What are the causes of peptic ulcer disease?
h pylori, NSAIDs, idiopathic, zollinger Ellison syndrome
What is the most common presenting symptom of peptic ulcer disease? What are the 6 classical features of duodenal ulcers? How do gastric ulcers present?
The most common px symptom is dyspepsia, but only 20% of patients with dyspepsia have ulcers. Duodenal ulcers present with epigastric pain, burning, develops 1-3hours after meals, relieved by eating and antacids, interrupts sleep, periodic it’s ( tends to occur in clusters over weeks with subsequent periods of remission).
What are the possible presenting complications of peptic ulcer disease?
Bleeding ( particularly severe if associated with the gastroduodenal artery), perforation (usually occurs in anterior ulcers), gastric outlet obstruction, penetration ( posterior) may cause pancreatitis.
What tests would you order on someone presenting with peptic ulcer disease?
Helicobacter breath test or stool test, upper GI gastroscope with histology and biopsy urease test ( to check for h pylori and malignant transformation), stool heme test, and FBC if pt looks aneamia or has signs of blood loss.
What is the biggest difference for prognosis between gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers?
Gastric ulcers must always be biopsies to rule out malignancy whereas duodenal ulcers are rarely malignant.
What test would you use to detect zollinger Ellison syndrome?
A fasting gastric measurement can be used if zollinger Ellison is suspected
How do you treat gastric ulcer?
Stop all NSAIDs and aspirin and put patient on proton pump inhibitors. If there is an active bleed it can be treated via endoscopy ( with the injection of adrenaline) or via surgery. If h pylori is present it should be eradicated.
Hw should Helicobacter pylori be eradicated?
There are a number of different therapy regimes, such as triple therapy or quadruple therapy. One treatment regime consists of using a PPI, with metronidazole and tetracycline.you may also want to consider using bismuth.
What types of diseases are more likely to produce small amounts of diarrhoea, and what types are more likely to produce large amounts?
Small volume diarrhoea (tablespoons of stool) are typical of clonic disease, whereas large volumes of stool (>1/2cup) are typical of small bowel disease.
What types of classifications are important to make when assessing diarrhoea?
Acute vs chronic
Small volume vs large volume
Watery vs steathorrea vs bloody
Secretory (persists with fasting) vs osmotic ( continues with fasting)
What are important questions to ask someone presenting with diarrhoea?
Those fads wilt. Travel, homosexual contacts, outbreak, seafood, extra intestinal signs of IBD, family history, antibiotics, diet, steatorrhoea, weightloss, immunosuppressed, laxatives, tumour history.
What is inflammatory diarrhoea?
Inflammatory diarrhoea can be due to a viral, bacterial, or parasitic cause. Inflammatory diarrhoea can also be caused by ischeamia, radiation damage, or inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory diarrhoea is associated with tenesmus, mucoid and bloody stool, fever, and abdominal pain.
What is non inflammatory diarrhoea?
Non inflammatory diarrhoea is associated with large and frequent volumes of watery diarrhoea. Due to the high volume and frequency of the bowel movements, loss of fluid/dehydration is possible. There is no fever, blood in the stool, or fecal leukocytosis in non inflammatory diarrhoea. Non inflammatory diarrhoea can be divided into osmotic and secretory.
What is secretory diarrhoea?
Secretory diarrhoea is when there is there is an altered flow of ions across the intestine resulting in an increase in secretion and decrease in absorption of fluids and electrolytes across the GI tract, especially in the small bowel. Secretory diarrhoea tends not to decrease by fasting. It can be caused by hormonal agents, enterotoxins, intestinal resection, laxative abuse, hyperthyroidism, colitis, and carcinoid tumours.
What can cause steatorrhoea?
Pancreatic insufficiency, giardiasis, coeliac disease, or liver disease
What is a schillings test and how is it performed?
A schillings test is used to test for causes of B12 malabsorption. An injection of vitamin b12 is given to saturate depleted stores of B12 in the liver. Then, radioactively labelled B12 is given.the amount of radioactive b12 in the urine output is measured. It is considered low if it is less than 10%. The test is then repeated with intrinsic factor ( pernicious aneamia), antibiotics ( bacterial overgrowth), or pancreatic enzymes (pancreatic insufficiency).
What is coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease is abnormal small intestine mucosa due to an autoimmune reaction to alpha gliadin, a component of gluten
What are the possible complications of coeliac disease?
Complications of untreated disease include gastrointestinal symptoms, malabsorption, increased GI malignancies, and increased overall mortality
What is dermatitis herpatiformis?
Dermititis herpatiformis is an intensely pruritiic vesiculopapular rash that occurs symmetrically over the extensor surfaces of the arms and legs, buttocks, trunk, neck, and scalp. Occurs in people with coeliac disease.
Whist are the possible presenting symptoms of coeliac disease?
Abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, diarrhoea, igA deficiency, iron deficiency aneamia, dermatitis herpatiformis, fatigue, weight
Loss, failure to thrive.
What genes are associated with coeliac disease?
HLA DQ2 and HLA DQ 8 are both associated with coeliac disease. However, lots of healthy people have these genes without having coeliac disease. A negative HLADQ2 and HLaDQ8 test can be used to rule out the presence of coeliac disease.
What tests would you order in someone you suspected of being a coeliac?
FBC and blood smear ( to check for aneamia, iron and B12 deficiency), IGA transglutaminase titre (IgA-tGT, titres above normal range). May also consider a skin biopsy on any presentations of dermatitis herpatiformis. Small bowel enters copy with histology. May also do slider HLA genotyping.
What are the different types of inflammatory bowel disease?
Types of inflammatory bowel disease include Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, indeterminate disease, microscopic and collagenous colitis.