Gastroenterology Flashcards
GI, Pancreas
What is Achalasia?
Disorder of motility of the lower oesophageal sphincter = functional stenosis
What is the common presentation of Achalasia?
Dysphagia worse on eating solid foods
What imaging would you do?
Barium swallow
What would the barium swallow show for achalasia ? (specific sign)
Bird beak sign
What is eosinophilic oesophagitis?
Abundance of eosinophils in the oesophageal lining
What are the causes of EO?
Genetic makeup and bodys response to the environment
What makes someone more likely to have EO?
A history of allergies
What are the symptoms of EO?
Dysphagia and the feeling that food will stick in the throat. (in teens they may also have nausea and not want to eat)
What is a Schatzki ring?
Extension of normal oesophageal tissue containing mucosa and submucosa
Who is this typically found in?
50+ population
Common presentation of Schatzki ring ?
Can be asymptomatic or can present with dysphagia
3 weeks of diarrhoea. He describes it as non-bloody, very loose and foul-smelling. He has also had some mild abdominal pain and a slight fever. He eats takeaways frequently and returned one month ago from a holiday in India. He has no signs of dehydration. The GP requests a stool sample which demonstrates an infective cause of his symptoms.
Giardisis
What is the first line antibiotic treatment for Giardisis?
Metronidazole
What tests would you want to carry out on a person with potential IBD?
Bloods - FBC, U&Es, G&S, coagulation, CRP/ESR
Stool test - calprotectin (raised in IBD not IBS) and microscopy - possible infection
Imaging - colonoscopy/endoscopy
MRI/CT if think complications could be present
What are the main pathological differences between UC and Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s is more patchy and is from mouth to anus including ulcers. The inflammation is in skip patches and is transmural with strictures and fistulas more common with deep fissures and ulceration (cobblestone). As well as non-caseating granulomas and increased macrophages.
UC is confined to the mucosal level and in the colon rectum area primarily. Goblet cells are reduced and their are increased crypt abscesses as well as ulceration and pseudopolyps.
What is the general presentation of IBD?
Diarrhoea (with blood or mucous), abdominal pain and tenderness - lower in UC and general in Crohn’s. In Crohn’s abdominal masses may also be present .
Malaise, anorexia, fever, weight loss.
Extra - eye inflammation, Osteoarthritis, erythema nodosum/pyoderma gangrenosum, clubbing, anaemia
What are the 4 possible medical treatments for IBD - pros and cons?
Amino salicylates (mesalazine 5-ASA) - induction and maintenance. First line for mild/moderate.
Corticosteroids - prednisolone (increase GC). Induction only as can’t be used long term due to S/E’s
Biologics - Infliximab (Anti-TNF⍺), (anti-IL-12/23), (anti A⁴B⁷). Work well especially for progressive disease however do come with lots of side effects. Induce and maintain.
Thiopurines (azathioprine) - induce and maintain. Used to reduce steroid use. TPMT must be nil/reduced prior to starting to reduce risk of myelosuppression.
What are some possible complications of IBD?
Toxic megacolon and perforation Obstruction and strictures (Crohn's) Bleeding/anaemia folate, iron and B12 anaemia in Crohn's (TI) Malabsorption/nutrition Colorectal cancer (UC)
What test is used to determine whether H.Pylori is present?
Carbon-13 breath test
A patient comes into the GP suffering from dyspepsia. What symptoms would you expect as part of this and what would your list of differential diagnoses look like?
Epigastic/retrograde pain and discomfort Reflux Nausea and vomiting GI disease: GORD Peptic ulcer gastric cancer/oesophageal cancer Hiatus hernia
What are the risk factors for GORD and why do these make it more likely?
Hiatus hernia - moving of the Z line making reflux more likely
Obesity/pregnancy = increased intraabdominal pressure
Diet/smoking/alcohol = relaxation of lower oesophageal sphincter
Lower oesophageal dysfunction
H.pylori - increases pepsin
A 40 yr old patient come into the GP with dyspepsia that is worse after eating and when they go to bed. They’ve noticed some regurgitation of food and a bitter taste in their mouth as well as feeling they are belching more than often.No red flags were noted. What is your next step based on the most likely diagnosis and what would be the treatment?
GORD
Lifestyle advice - lose weight, diet, exercise, sleeping with more pillows, smoking or alcohol cessation
Symptom relief - antacids, pepto-bismol, prostaglandins.
Gastric protection and treatment - PPI (omeprazole) or H2 antagonist (Cimetidine)
What possible complication/consequence of GORD do you want to rule out/avoid and what does this mean?
Barretts oesophagus.
Pre-cancerous metaplasia due to acid on the oesophagus causing it to become gastric mucosa. This can then become adenocarcinoma.
How is Barrett’s oesophagus treated?
Local mucosal removal if small. If more general then have ablation which is a cure. If disease is very advanced than surgical resection although this is a big surgery.
What does a patient need to have done before having a H.Pylori C13 breath test?
2 weeks of PPIs
In a serious untreatable by medication case of GORD what would the treatment be? And what are some complications?
Surgery - Nissens Fundoplication (laparoscopic)
- Reduce and repair a hiatus hernia
- wrap the fundus of stomach around the OG junction so that when the stomach contracts the OGJ remains closed preventing reflux.
COmplications = dysphagia, scarring, hernia, achlasia
How would you describe H.pylori?
Spiral shaped gram negative urease secreting bacteria. Causes 90% of ulcers (more DU than GU).
What is the eradication treatment for H.pylori?
How would you alter this if they were penicillin allergic?
7 day triple therapy:
PPI 2 times per day (lansoprazole 20mg)
and Amoxicillin 1g 2 times per day and Clarithromycin (500mg) or Metronidazole (400mg) 2 times per day.
If penicillin allergic then take clarithromycin and metronidazole instead of the amoxicillin.
What are risk factors for Peptic Ulcers?
Smoking, NSAIDs, stress, H.pylori
A patient comes in with a query peptic ulcer, their symptoms include epigastric retrosternal pain that is relieved when they eat due to this they have put on weight. Which ulcer is this most likely to be and what is the pathophysiology behind it?
Duodenal ulcer (duodenal cap)
H.Pylori –> increased pepsin –> abrasions in duodenum –> abnormal healing.
A patient comes in with a query peptic ulcer, their symptoms include epigastric retrosternal pain after eating causing them to have a decreased appetite and weight loss. Which ulcer is this most likely to be and what is the pathophysiology behind it?
Gastric ulcer (antrum/lesser curve)
H.pylori –> pangastritis –> decreased mucosal repair mechanism.
Which peptic ulcer is more common and which peptic ulcer is more likely to be/become cancerous?
Duodenal = common Gastric = Cancerous
A patient comes in with dyspepsia what are the red flag signs that would warrant a 2 week wait OGD?
Weight loss Fever Worsening dysphagia Recurrent dyspepsia despite treatment Mass Vomiting Iron deficient anaemia
What is the main treatment of peptic ulcers?
Eradication of H.pylori
In which cases would surgery be undertaken on a patient with a peptic ulcer?
Bleeding - normally does resolve spontaneously but if it doesn’t
Perforation - omental patch
Obstruction - uncommon but would resect/bypass
Which genetic condition would make a peptic ulcer more likely regardless of H.pylori and why is this?
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome - Men-2 can cause a gastrin producing tumour. Increasing the acid.
What is a side effect of magnesium tricilitate and what type of drug is it?
Diarrhoea
Antacid
What is a side effect of Aluminium hydroxide and what type of drug is it?
COnstipation
Antacid
What does the major pancreatic duct feed into and then what does that feed into?
Common bile duct –> Major duodenal papilla
What does the exocrine part of the pancreas produce?
Secretions - amylase and lipase
What does the endocrine part of the pancreas produce?
Hormones
There are 4 cell types in the pancreas what are they and what is their function?
Alpha = glucagon
Beta = Insulin
Delta = somatostatin
C cells = no function