Gastroenterology Flashcards
Criteria for urgent (2ww) referral for direct access OGD to investigate for oesophageal or gastric Ca?
- dysphagia
- aged 55 or over with weight loss and either upper abdo pain or reflux or dyspepsia.
When should a patient with dyspepsia be referred for a direct access non-urgent OGD to investigate for possible oesophageal/gastric Ca?
if aged 55 and over with any 1 of:
- treatment resistant dyspepsia
- raised PLT count
- N+V
2ww referral criteria for suspected pancreatic cancer?
aged 40 and over with jaundice
Who should get an urgent (2ww) direct access CT scan to investigate for possible pancreatic cancer?
if aged 60 and over with weight loss ad any of: abdo pain back pain new onset diabetes nausea vomiting diarrhoea constipation
(or urgent ultrasound if CT not available)
Most appropriate analgesics for pain associated with alcoholic peripheral neuropathy in a patient with severe liver disease?
duloxetine, gabapentin or pregabalin
NOT TCAs e.g. amitriptyline due to risk of increased sedative effects when severe liver disease
Why should opioids be avoided or used with caution in patients with hepatic impairment?
can precipitate hepatic encephalopathy and coma
Proportion of bowel cancers diagnosed following screening each year?
up to 25%
Criteria for 2ww referral for suspected colorectal cancer?
- FIT test reveals occult blood in faeces
- Aged 40 or over with unexplained weight loss and abdo pain
- Aged 50 and over with unexplained rectal bleeding
- Aged 60 and over with iron deficiency anaemia or change in bowel habit.
-Consider 2ww referral if abdo or rectal mass.
-Consider 2ww referral in those <50yrs with rectal bleeding and any of the following unexplained sign/symptoms:
abdo pain
weight loss
change in bowel habit
Fe deficiency anaemia
When should FIT tests be offered to patients?
To adults WITHOUT rectal bleeding who:
are aged 50 and over with unexplained change in bowel habit or Fe deficiency anaemia OR
are aged 60 and over with anaemia without Fe deficiency
Clinical criteria for a diagnosis of IBS?
Abdo pain/discomfort which is either relieved by defecation or associated with altered bowel frequency/stool form, and accompanied by 2 of:
altered stool passage (straining, urgency, incomplete evacuation)
made worse by eating
passage of mucus
abdo bloating/distension/tension/hardness
When should you consider referral for non urgent direct access OGD for pt with haeamatemsis?
always consider referral in this case to assess for oesophageal Ca!
When should pt with upper abdominal pain be considered for non-urgent upper GI endoscopy to assess for oesophageal cancer?
if age 55 and over with upper abdo pain + low Hb OR
age 55 and over with upper abdo pain + raised PLT OR
age 55 and over with upper abdo pain + N+V
Investigation that should be considered if pt has an upper abdo mass consistent with an enlarged gallbladder?
Consider urgent direct access US scan to assess for gallbladder cancer
1st line management of IBS?
Diet and lifestyle:
- adequate fluid intake-8 cups per day
- reduce caffeine and alcohol
- fibre-avoid insoluble, but can increase oats, nuts and seeds
- sweetners-avoid sorbitol if diarrhoea
- probiotics for 4/52 in those that want to do a trial-can help if diarrhoea/bloating predominant sx
- low FODMAP diet (NOT 1st line)-general dietary advice 1st line, can consider r/f to dietician re low FODMAP diet if persistent or refractory sx
- avoid life stressors
1st line pharmacological tx of IBS?
laxative (NOT lactulose) OR anti-motility/anti-spasmodic OR anti-diarrhoeal based on predomoinant sx
2nd line pharmacological tx of IBS?
TCAs (off label)-for refractory abdo pain
r/v after 4 weeks