Gastroenterology Flashcards
What relieves the pain of pancreatitis?
Sitting forward
What signs might you see in acute pancreatitis?
Grey Turner’s and Cullen’s sign
What might you see on an AXR in pancreatitis?
Sentinel loop
How to assess the severity of pancreatitis
PaO2 <8kPa Age >55yrs Neutrophilia (raised) Calcium (low) Renal function (raised urea) Enzymes Albumin (low) Sugar (raised)
What can cause chronic pancreatitis?
Alcohol
Genetics: CF, Haemochromatosis
Pancreatic duct obstruction: tumours, stones
How to treat chronic pancreatitis?
Stop alcohol
Exocrine function - low-fat diet, pancreatic enzyme supplements
Endocrine insufficiency – diet, consider insulin
Surgery – pancreatectomy
What are the main symptoms of gastric Ca?
Dyspepsia (if >1m and age >50yr - warrants Ix)
Dysphagia
Vomiting
WL
How to Ix gastric Ca?
Gastroscopy + biopsies
Endoscopic USS - to assess depth
CT/MRI - for staging
What are the predisposing factors to colonic Ca?
Neoplastic polyps
Genetics (FAP, NHPCC)
Diet low in fibre and high in red/processed meats
Alcohol/smoking
Types of colonic polyps?
Inflammatory - UC/Crohns
Hamartomatous - in certain conditions
Neoplastic
What do you stain the liver biopsy with to see haemochromatosis?
Perl’s stain
What are the three main complications of liver cirrhosis?
Liver failure
Portal hypertension
HCC
What happens in liver failure?
Coagulopathy (loss of F2, 7, 9, 10 causes raised INR) Encephalopathy (liver flap, confusion) Hypoalbuminaemia (oedema, leukonychia) Sepsis (pneumonia, septicaemia) Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) Hypoglycaemia
What happens in portal hypertension?
Ascites
Splenomegaly
Portosystemic shunt including oesophageal varices
How do you treat ascites?
Bed rest, fluid restriction, low-salt diet
Spironolactone first, if poor response – add furosemide
Chart daily weight
Therapeutic paracentesis with albumin infusion may be tried
What is the pathophysiology of Wilson’s Disease?
The absorption of copper and transportation to the liver is intact. The incorporation into caeruloplasmin in hepatocytes and its excretion into bile are impaired. Therefore copper accumulates in the liver and later in other organs
How to manage Wilson’s disease?
Low copper diet
Penicillamine
Screen siblings
What is Hesselbach’s triangle?
Medial to the inferior epigastric vessels
Lateral to the rectus abdominus
Superior to the inguinal ligament
Which structure is more susceptible to damage from a hernia repair?
The ilioinguinal nerve
What are the S+S of oesophageal achalasia?
Dysphagia of BOTH liquids and solids, dyspepsia, gastric reflux
How to Ix oesophageal achalasia?
Manometry (to assess tone), Ba swallow, CXR
How to Tx oesophageal achalasia?
Intra-sphincteric injection of botox
Heller cardiomyotomy
What symptoms might you see in oesophageal cancer?
Dysphagia WL Retrosternal chest pain Hoarseness Cough
What causes a corkscrew oesophagus?
Oesophageal spasm
What are the symptoms of GORD?
Indigestions - relieved by lying, stooping, straining
Belching
Acid brash
Water brash - mouth filling with saliva
What are the extra-oesophageal symptoms of GORD?
Nocturnal asthma
Sinusitis/laryngitis
Chronic cough
What are the complications of GORD?
Oesophagitis Ulcers Benign stricture Iron-deficiency Barret's oesphagus + Ca
What investigations are done for GORD?
Endoscopy if indicated
Ba swallow
24hr oesophageal pH monitoring +/- manometry
How do you treat a duodenal and gastric ulcer?
Duodenal - 4 weeks PPI
Gastric - 8 weeks PPI
How do you treat gastritis?
Quadruple therapy
PPI, amox, clarithro, bismuth subcitrate
How do you manage acute oesophageal varices rupture?
Resuscitate with blood if needed
Correct clotting abnormalities
Endoscopic banding/sclerotherapy
Sengsaken-Blakemore tube insertion if bleeding uncontrolled
How do you treat diverticulosis and diverticulitis?
Diverticulosis - high fibre diet, anti-spasmodics (mebeverine), resection as a last resort
Diverticulitis - abx and bowel rest, may need fluids of drainage