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
What are the potential complications of hypernatraemic dehydration?
- May lead to cerebral shrinkage: hyperrreflexia, increased tone, altered consciousness
- Seizures
- Cerebral haemorrhage
What is Henoch Schonlein Purpura?
IgA mediated vasculitis which develops in children post-infection.