Gastroenterology and Surgery Flashcards
Pathophysiology of coeliac disease…
Autoimmune disease where anti-TTG antibodies react to prolamins found in gluten, leading to invasion of epithelium in GIT causing villous atrophy
Coeliac disease is associated with…
- Family history
- Down syndrome
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
- T1DM
Features of coeliac disease…
- Pallor
- Diarrhoea
- Pale floating stools
- Anorexia
- Failure to thrive
How is coeliac disease diagnosed?
- Autoimmune assay = anti-TTG
- Endoscopy = villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia
What is non-IgE mediated food allergy, and how does it present?
Hypersensitivity reaction that occurs hours after ingestion of food , involving the GIT.
Presentation:
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Failure to thrive
What are the clinical features of ulcerative colitis?
- Occurs mainly in the distal colon
- Continous lesion
- Presentation = diarrhoea, bloody stools, abdominal pain, weight loss, anaemia
Diagnostic features of UC…
- Crypt abscesses
- Mucosal inflammation
- Goblet cell depletion
Management of UC…
- Topical/ oral aminosalicylate - 5-ASA, depending on extent of disease
- Surgery:
- Proctolectomy with ileostomy (whole colon removed and ileum brought out to form stoma)
- Ileoanal anastamosis (stools passed normally but more watery)
What are the clinical features of Crohns?
- Skip lesions - occur along whole GIT from mouth to anus
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Weight loss
- Poor growth
- Peri-anal abscesses, skin tags, fistuale
Diagnostic features of Crohns…
- Transmural inflammation
- Crypt abscesses
- Granulomas
Management of Crohns…
Inducing remission = Oral steroids
Maintaining remission = Immunosuppressants e.g. methotrexate, biological therapy e.g. infliximab
Why do babies have physiological reflux…
- Predominantly liquid-based diet
- Mainly horizontal position
- Short intra-abdominal oesophagus
Management of pathological reflux in children….
Conservative:
- Reduce over -feeding
- Thickening of foods
- Sitting upright after feeds
Medical:
- Gaviscon can be given
- Prokinetics e.g. metoclopramide
- PPIs
Surgery - indicated in resistant cases
How does pyloric stenosis present?
Symptoms:
- Projectile vomiting of large amounts - no bile present
- No diarrhoea
- Baby remains hungry and uncomfortable
Diagnosis of pyloric stenosis …
- Olive-sized pyloric mass on palpation of abdomen
- USS will show thickened pylorus and non-passage into duodenum
- Blood gas shows hypochloraemic metabolic alkalosis
Management of pyloric stenosis…
Nearly all patients require surgery for definitve management: pyloromyotomy (incision made in circular muscle of pylorus to release it )
*Need fluid resuscitation and correction of electrolyte abnormalities prior to procedure.
Key features of gastroenteritis…
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
Main causes of gastroeneteritis…
Viral:
- Rotavirus = most common in children
- Norovirus
- Adenovirus
Bacterial:
- E coli
- C diff
- Salmonella
- Shigella
Red flags for gastroenteritis…
- Severe abdominal pain
- Persistent diarrhoea > 10 days
- Very unwell
- Vomiting without diarrhoea
Management of gastroenteritis…
*Mainly dependent on child’s hydration status as rehydration is the mainstay of treatment
Mild dehydration = discharge if tolerating oral intake
Moderate dehydration = encourage oral rehydration with ORT, breastfeed, milk/water
Severe dehydration = aggressive rehydration required
What is toddler diarrhoea?
Syndrome of non-specific loose stools which may contain undigested food.
Most children are completely well and thriving and will grow out of the condition by 5 y/o.
Managed by using healthier dietary habits.
How does hypernatraemic dehydration occur?
Seen in neonates who have additional insensible fluid losses in addition to diarrhoea e.g. fever