Gastroenterology Flashcards
What are aphthous ulcers?
Shallow, painful ulcers with inflammatory haloes that heal without scarring
Often recur
List aetiology/risk factors for aphthous ulcers
Inflammatory bowel disease Iron deficiency Infection Trauma Pemphigus/pemphigoid
Outline treatment for aphthous ulcers
Avoid oral trauma, acidic food/drink
Steroid lozenges
Tetracycline/antimicrobial mouthwash
Oral prednisolone if severe
What is leucoplakia?
Mucosal white patch that does not rub off and is not attributable to another disease process
Usually pre-malignant
List aetiology/risk factors of leucoplakia
EB virus causes oral hairy leucoplakia esp in HIV
Transient candidiasis/SLE/trauma
All leucoplakia should be referred for biopsy. True/False?
True, when in doubt
What is oral thrush?
White patches on buccal mucosa caused by candidiasis
List aetiology/risk factors for oral thrush
Elderly Immunosuppression Diabetes Antibiotics Long-term steroid + inhaler use Malignancy
Outline treatment for oral thrush
Nystatin suspension
Amphoterecin lozenges
Oral fluconazole
Describe the typical appearance of oral squamous cell carcinoma
Raised ulcer with firm edges
Found at floor of mouth or on lateral tongue
List aetiology/risk factors for oral squamous cell carcinoma
Smoking
Alcohol
Family history
Soft areas are high-risk sites
Outline treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma
Radiotherapy
Surgery
What is GORD?
Reflux of stomach acid causes inflammation of oeseophagus
Can lead to basal zone hyperplasia and metaplasia
List aetiology/risk factors for GORD
Incompetent lower oeseophageal sphincter Hiatus hernia Obesity Increased acid secretion Pregnancy Achalasia surgery Overeating/heavy fatty meals Drugs (tricyclics, anticholinergics, nitrates) H. pylori
List clinical features of GORD
"Heartburn" Worse lying down and after meals Relieved by antacid Belching, regurgitation of food Waterbrash Odynophagia Nocturnal asthma/cough Laryngitis
What investigations would you do for GORD?
Trial PPI for 2 weeks + antacid
Endoscopy if over 55 yo, symptoms longer than 4 weeks, dysphagia or weight loss
24h manometry +/- pH monitoring if normal endoscopy
Barium swallow if indicated e.g. hernia
Outline treatment of GORD
Lifestyle improvement (smoking, weight, raise bed, small regular meals, avoid hot/spicy food/drinks)
Antacid for symptom relief
PPI (omeprazole)
H2 antagonist may be tried (ranitidine)
Surgery (endoscopic fundoplication to repair LOS) if unresponsive
What is Barett’s oesophagus?
Metaplastic change from stratified squamous to columnar epithelium due to persistent acid abuse
Mucosa becomes unstable and susceptible to dysplasia
How would you investigate Barett’s oesophagus?
Endoscopy and biopsy
Outline treatment of Barett’s oesophagus
Avoid acidic food/drink
PPI
Argon
Mucosal resection/RF ablation
What is achalasia?
Failure of relaxation of lower oesophageal sphincter due to degeneration of myenteric plexus
List clinical features of achalasia
Intermittent dysphagia
Regurgitation
Substernal pain/cramping
Weight loss
What investigations would you do for achalasia?
CXR shows dilated oesophagus
Barium swallow shows bird-beak appearance
Outline treatment of achalasia
Endoscopic balloon dilation
Heller’s cardiomyotomy + PPI
Botox injection
Ca channel blocker
What are the most common types of oesophageal cancer?
Squamous or adenocarcinoma
50% middle oesophagus, 30% lower oesophagus, 20% upper oesophagus
List aetiology/risk factors for oesophageal cancer
Low vitamin A and/or C Smoking Alcohol excess Achalasia Plummer-Vinson syndrome Obesity Barett's oesophagus Reflux oesophagitis
List clinical features of oesophageal cancer
Dysphagia Weight loss Retrosternal chest pain Hoarse voice Cough
What investigations would you do for oesophageal cancer?
Barium swallow
CXR
Endoscopy + biopsy
CT staging
Outline treatment of oesophageal cancer
Palliative care
Surgery if no invasion/wide mets/poor fitness
If localised T1/T2 disease, may try radical oesophagectomy
What is gastritis?
Inflammation and mucosal injury to stomach lining
List aetiology/risk factors for gastritis
Acute (chemicals, trauma, burns, infection)
H. pylori
Chronic (NSAID, alcohol, GORD, smoking)
Autoimmune (pernicious anaemia)
List clinical features of gastritis
Heartburn
Epigastric pain, esp on eating/hunger
Bloating, fullness
ALARM Symptoms (anaemia, loss of weight, anorexia, recent onset, malaena, swallowing difficulty)
What investigations would you do for gastritis?
Less than 55yo: test of H. pylori
Over 55yo or ALARM Symptoms: endoscopy
Outline treatment for gastritis
Stop dyspeptic drugs, lifestyle changes
Antacids
PPI
H2 antagonists
Duodenal ulcers are more common than gastric ulcers. True/False?
True
List aetiology/risk factors for peptic ulcer disease
H. pylori Drugs (NSAID, steroid) Smoking Reflux disease Increased gastric acid secretion Delayed gastric emptying Blood group O Stress Neurosurgery (increased ICP, Cushing ulcers)
List clinical features of peptic ulcer disease
Epigastric pain, esp meal-related, relieved by drinking/eating cold stuff
May have weight loss
Epigastric tenderness
Feeling of fullness
What investigations would you do for peptic ulcer disease?
H. pylori stool antigen/C13 breath test/IgG serology
Stop PPI 2 weeks before endoscopy
Ulcer biopsy for histology and cytology
Outline treatment for peptic ulcer disease
H. pylori eradication (amoxicillin/metronidazole, omeprazole, clarithromycin)
Bismuth chealate alternative to antibiotics
Antacids
PPI
H2 antagonists
What is gastroparesis?
Delayed gastric emptying due to autonomic neuropathy
List clinical features of gastroparesis
Fullness, bloating
Nausea, vomiting
Weight loss
Abdo pain
What investigation would you do for gastroparesis?
Gastric scintigraphy with 99-technitium meal
Outline treatment for gastroparesis
Anti-emetic Tetracycline Erythromycin has anti-emetic properties Liquid diet Nutritional support, NG tube
Which type of gastric cancer is most common?
Adenocarcinoma occuring at gastro-oesophageal junction
List aetiology/risk factors for gastric adenocarcinoma
H. pylori causing gastritis causing metaplasia causing dysplasia causing carcinoma ! Japanese people Pernicious anaemia Blood group A Atrophic gastritis Smoking Poor diet
List clinical features of gastric cancer
Epigastric pain Dyspepsia Weight loss Haematemesis Dysphagia Epigastric mass Anaemia Hepatomegaly, jaundice Enlarged left supraclavicular node (Virchow's node)
What investigations would you do for gastric cancer?
Gastroscopy and multiple biopsies
USS/CT staging
Outline treatment of gastric cancer
If distal 2/3, partial gastrectomy
If proximal 1/3, total gastrectomy
Combination chemotherapy
What type of blood would make you think of an upper GI bleed?
Haematemesis with dark coffee ground substance
Malaena with black tarry stools
List aetiology/risk factors for upper GI bleeding
Peptic ulcers (45%) Gastritis (15%) Oesophageal varices Mallory-Weiss tear Reflux oesophagitis Malignancy Drugs (NSAID, steroid, thrombolytic, anticoagulants)
List clinical features of upper GI bleeding
Peripheral shutdown (cool, clammy, prolonged cap refill) Reduced Glasgow Coma Score Haematemesis Malaenia Tachycardia, hypotension Weight loss Dysphagia Signs of chronic liver disease
What investigations would you do for upper GI bleeding?
Organise CXR, ECG, ABG’s
Crossmatch blood
Urgent endoscopy
Severity 100 rule (systolic less than 100, pulse over 100, Hb less than 100)
Rockall scoring to predict rebleed and mortality
Outline basic treatment of upper GI bleeding
ABCDE approach
Large bore IV cannulae, take blood for crossmatch, FBC, U+E, LFT, clotting
Transfuse O- blood
Catheterise and monitor urine output
Outline treatment for peptic ulcer upper GI bleed
IV PPI after endoscopy
Oral fluids if no haemodynamic compromise
Adrenaline injection
Heater probe coagulation/surgical clipping
Outline treatment for oesophageal varices
Terlipressin
Early OGD + EVL (Sengstaken-Blakemore tube)
Propranolol and banding if bleed stops
TIPSS if rebleeds
What is oesophageal varices?
Portal hypertension causes dilated collateral veins usually in lower oesophagus
List aetiology/risk factors for oesophageal varices
Pre-hepatic (portal vein thrombosis, splenic vein thrombosis)
Intra-hepatic (cirrhosis, schistosomiasis, sarcoidosis)
Post-hepatic (Budd-Chiari, right heart failure, pericarditis)
Alcohol abuse
What is coeliac disease?
T-cell mediated autoimmunity to gluten, causing malabsorption and villus atrophy
List aetiology/risk factors for coeliac disease
HLA DQ2/DQ8
Autoimmunity
Dermatitis herpetiformis
List clinical features of coeliac disease
Steatorrhoea Diarrhoea Abdo pain Bloating Nausea, vomiting Aphthous ulcers Angular stomatitis Weight loss Fatigue Weakness Mood disorder
What investigations would you do for coeliac disease?
Antibodies: alpha-gliadin, ttG, endomysial
Duodenal biopsy shows intraepithelial lymphocytes, subtotal villus atrophy, crypt hyperplasia
DEXA scan to assess osteoporosis
Outline treatment of coeliac disease
Gluten-free diet
Oral dapsone
List aetiology/risk factors for intestinal failure
Coeliac disease Chronic pancreatitis Inflammatory bowel disease Extensive surgery (short-gut syndrome) Reduced bile secretion Whipple's disease Drugs (metformin) Bacterial overgrowth
List clinical features of intestinal failure
Diarrhoea Weight loss Lethargy Steatorrhoea Anaemia Bleeding Oedema Neuropathy
What investigations would you do for intestinal failure?
FBC, U+E, folate/B12 Coeliac screen Albumin Stool microscopy Barium follow-through Breath hydrogen (bacteria) Endoscopy + biopsy
Outline treatment of intestinal failure
Acute: parenteral nutrition via central/peripheral vein
Oral refeeding with supplements
Enteral feeding (NG, NJ, PEG)
Total parenteral nutrition
List aetiology/risk factors of small bowel obstruction
Luminal (gallstone ileus, food, bezoar, tumour)
Occlusion (atherosclerosis, strangulation, hernia, adhesion)
IBD
Intussuception
Constipation
Paralytic ileus
List clinical features of small bowel obstruction
Abdo colicky pain Distention Tenderness Tinkly bowel sounds Faeculent vomiting Constipation
What investigations would you do for small bowel obstruction?
Abdo XR shows valvulae conniventes - central gas shadows that completely cross lumen
FBC, U+E, ABG’s
Enema XR
PR exam
Outline treatment of small bowel obstruction
Analgesia, fluids, nutritional replacement
Drip + suck NG tube
Catheterisation
Surgery if perforation/strangulation/ischaemia
What is gastric volvulus?
Twisting of gastro-oesophageal junction
List aetiology/risk factors for gastric volvulus
Paraoesophageal hernia
Congenital anomaly
Bowel malformation
Pyloric stenosis
List clinical features of gastric volvulus
Vomiting, wretching Pain Failure to pass NG tube Saliva regurgitation Dysphagia Noisy gastric peristalsis relieved by lying down
What investigation would you do for gastric volvulus?
Erect AXR shows gastric dilation and fluid level
Outline treatment of gastric volvulus
Resuscitation
Laparoscopic surgery
What is Meckel’s diverticulum?
Remnant of ompalomesenteric duct, 60cm from ileeocaecal valve, containing gastric and pancreatic tissue
List clinical features of Meckel’s diverticulum
Asymptomatc
Painless malaena
Abdo pain
Outline treatment of Meckel’s diverticulum
Laparoscopic surgical resection if bothersome
What is Crohn’s disease?
Chronic inflammatory disease characterised by transmural granulomatous inflammation affecting any part of the GI tract
List aetiology/risk factors for Crohn’s disease
Genetics (NOD2, CARDI5)
Smoking
Infective gut commensals
Typically young children to 40 year olds
List clinical features of Crohn’s disease
Diarrhoea Abdo pain Weight loss Fever Malaise Skin tags Painful ulcers Abscesses Abdo mass Perianal abscess, fistulae Extra-intestinal (clubbing, erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum, conjunctivitis, episcleritis, arthritis)
What investigations would you do for Crohn’s disease
Bloods
Stool microscopy and culture to exclude infection
Sigmoidoscopy, rectal biopsy/colonoscopy/capsule endoscopy
MRI for pelvic disease/fistulae
Outline treatment for Crohn’s disease
Oral prednisolone short-term
Admit if severe attack for IV steroid
Immunosuppression (azathioprine, methotrexate)
Anti-TNF (infliximab)
Surger (resection, stricturoplasty, fistula repair)
Treat perianal disease
What is ulcerative colitis?
Relapsing and remitting inflammatory bowel disease involving rectum and extending proximally (no skip lesions)
List aetiology/risk factors for ulcerative colitis
E. coli adhesin-expressing strains
Genetics
Typically 20-40 year ols
List clinical features of ulcerative colitis
Gradual diarrhoea, bloody/mucousy Crampy abo pain Increased bowel frequency Urgency Tenesmus Incontinence Night-rising Lower abdo pain Extra-intestinal (clubbing, erythema nodosum, apthous ulcers, episcleritis)
Define severe ulcerative colitis
More than 6 bloody stools a day + 1 of Fever Tachycardia Anaemia Raised ESR
What investigations would you do for ulcerative colitis?
Bloods
Stool microscopy and culture, C. diff toxin
AXR mucosal thickening, toxic megacolon query
Sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy
Biopsy shows crypt abscesses, inflammatory infiltrate
Outline treatment of ulcerative colitis
Mild: prednisolone + mesalazine, foam enema
Mod: prednisolone + 5-ASA + steroid enema
Sev: IV hydrocortisone, rectal steroid, stepdown to Mod treatment
Immunosuppresion
Anti-TNF
Surgery (proctocolectomy with end ileostomy, ileorectal anastomosis/pouch)
What is diverticular disease?
Outpouching of the gut wall, usually due to high luminal pressure, usually at sigmoid colon
Diverticulitis: inflamed diverticula
What is the main cause of diverticular disease?
Low-fibre diet
List clinical features of diverticular disease
Abdo pain Altered bowel habit Nausea PR bleed Flatulence
What investigations would you do for diverticular disease?
PR exam
Sigmoidoscopy
Barium enema
CT scan
Outline treatment of diverticular disease
Increase fibre intake Percutaneous drainage Hartmann procedure (remove sigmoid colon, attach colostomy)
Outline treatment for diverticulitis
Co-amoxiclav + metronidazole Analgesia Nil by mouth, IV fluids Drain abscesses Hartmann procedure
What is irritable bowel syndrome?
Functional GI disorder with abdo symptoms with no identifiable cause