Gastroenterology Block Flashcards
What is Charcot’s Triad?
The combination of jaundice, RUQ pain, and fever = ascending cholangitis
- Infection of the bile duct in the liver
- E. coli is typically the causative organism of ascending cholangitis
What antispasmodic is typically used in gallstones?
Buscopan
- Should avoid NSAIDs
What condition is a risk factor for gallbladder cancer?
Chronic cholecystitis
What is a complication of acute cholecystitis?
Gallbladder empyema/mucosele
What is Sepsis 6?
Remember “3 in, 3 out”
3 in:
- Oxygen
- Fluids
- IV antibiotics
3 out:
- Blood cultures
- Lactate
- Urine output
What findings on ultrasound are consistent with gallstones?
Thick-walled gallbladder with pericholecystic fluid
What is the treatment for peptic ulcers?
- Antibiotics to kill H. Pylori -> i.e. amoxicillin, clarithromycin
- Block acid production (PPI)-> i.e. omeprazole, lansoprazole
- Reduce acid production (H2 antagonists) -> i.e. ranitidine, nizatidine
- Antacids to neutralise stomach acid
- Protect lining of stomach + small intestine -> i.e. misoprostol
What hematological values would be indicative of an upper GI bleed?
High urea with a normal creatinine
- Increased protein
What 3 things would you look for when investigating a DKA?
- Acidosis on ABG
- Raised glucose on ABG
- Raised ketones in urine/blood
What are the 3 main risk factors for kidney stones?
- Smoking
- High calcium
- Dehydration
What is the striking differential in a patient presenting with LIF pain?
Diverticulitis
What is the difference between diverticulosis, diverticular disease, and diverticulitis?
Diverticulosis = multiple out-pouching of the bowel without symptoms
Diverticular disease = symptoms associated after eating
Diverticulitis = pain, fever, and PR bleeding
What are the causes of epigastric pain?
- Pancreatitis
- Gastritis/duodenitis
- Peptic ulcer
- Gallbladder disease
- Aortic aneurysm
What blood test would be elevated in pancreatitis?
Lipase (more sensitive than amylase) + amylase
What are the causes of pancreatitis?
GET SMASHED
Gallstones
Ethanol
Trauma
Steroids
Mumps
Autoimmune
Scorpion sting
Hypercalcemia/high cholesterol
ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
Drugs (i.e. sodium valproate, thiazide diuretics, amiodarone)
What is messenteric adenitis?
A mild condition that causes temporary pain in the abdomen, mainly in children. It usually clears on its own or requires antibiotics + painkillers.
Inflamed lymph glands in the abdomen
How can you differentiate small and large bowel obstruction?
Ask the patient if vomit or pain came first.
If pain = large bowel obstruction
If vomit = small bowel obstruction
Important to also ask when they last passed stool, diarrhoea, family history, weight loss, PR bleeding
Remember previous abdominal surgery is a risk factor for GI adhesions!
What is the 3-6-9 rule?
The diameter of the small intestine, large intestine, and cecum cannot be greater than 3cm, 6cm, and 9cm respectively. If so, then the bowel is dilated and is likely caused by an obstruction.
What is “drip and suck”?
In a patient with a GI adhesion, insert a nasogastric tube and cannula to try and get rid of stomach contents. If no change, then surgery is required to operate on adhesions.
What is permissive hypotension?
In the scenario of a gross haemorrhage, it has been found to be beneficial in some patients who are hypotensive to avoid giving IV fluids to the extent that reverses their hypotension.
Instead management is given so their SBP ≤ 80mmHg. This is to prevent thrombus dislodgement and help the body to stop the bleeding on its own without causing further fluid loss.
What is a cause of increased ADH secretion and decreased ADH secretion?
Increased ADH = SIADH (I.e. cancer)
Decreased ADH = Diabetes Insipidus
What’s the difference between transudate and exudate?
Transudate -> dealing with hydrostatic P
Exudate -> dealing with inflammation
Transudate:
- Fluid shifts out b/c of low protein (increased hydrostatic P = leakage between endothelial cells)
- Causes: CHF, Liver failure, Kidney failure, SVC obstruction, PE
Exudate:
- Vessel dilates + stasis of fluid + proteins
- Endothelial spaces are larger thus fluid + protein leaks out of the vessel
- Causes: pleural effusion, pneumonia/infections, SLE, Cancer, PE, Pancreatic disease, Drug reactions
Test for transudate or exudate with Thoracentesis -> “Light’s criteria”:
- Presence of cholesterol (LDH) + protein = exudate
- No cholesterol/proteins = transudate
What are the BMI categories?
< 18.5 = underweight 18.5-25 = on target 25-30 = overweight 30-40 = obesity > 40 = morbidly obese
Name 9 conditions affecting the mouth?
- Leukoplakia = white patch on oral mucosa. Oral hairy leukoplakia is associated with HIV caused by EBV.
- Aphthous Ulcers = causes can be Celiac or Crohn’s Disease
- Candidiasis = risk factor is steroids (fluconazole for oropharyngeal thrush)
- Angular Stomatitis = denture problems, candidiasis, def of iron/vitamin B2
- Gingivitis = poor oral hygiene, pregnancy, drugs (phenytoin, cyclosporine, nifedipine), vitamin C deficiency, acute myeloid leukaemia, Vincent’s angina
- Microstomia = mouth is too small from thickening and tightening of perioral skin after burns or in epidermolysis bullosa
- Oral Pigmentation = Perutz-Jegher’s; Addison’s disease, drugs (antimalarials), malignant melanoma
- Teeth = blue line at gum-tooth margin is lead poisoning
- Tongue = Glossitis (B12/iron/folate deficiency), macroglossia (myxoedema, acromegaly, amyloid), tongue cancer (raised ulcer with firm edges. Smoking + alcohol are risk factors)
List causes of white intra-oral lesions in the mouth?
- Idiopathic keratosis
- Leukoplakia
- Lichen plants
- Poor dental hygiene
- Candidiasis
- Squamous papilloma
- Carcinoma
- Hairy oral leukoplakia
- Lupus erythematosus
- Smoking
- Aphthous stomatitis
- Secondary syphilis
List diagnostic and therapeutic indications for upper GI endoscopy
Diagnostic:
- Hematemesis/melena
- Dysphagia
- Dyspepsia
- Duodenal biopsy
- Persistent vomiting
- Iron deficiency (cancer)
Therapeutic:
- Treatment for bleeding lesions
- Variceal banding and sclerotherapy
- Argon plasma coagulation for suspected vascular abnormality
- Stent insertion, laser therapy
- Stricture dilatation, polyp resection
What are the diagnostic and therapeutic indications for colonoscopy?
Diagnostic:
- Rectal bleeding
- Iron-deficiency anemia (bleeding cancer)
- Persistent diarrhoea
- Positive fecal occult blood test
- Assessment or suspicion of IBD
- Colon cancer surveillance
Therapeutic:
- Hemostasis
- Bleeding Anglo dysplasia lesion
- Colonic stent deployment
- Volvulus decompression
- Pseudo-obstruction (polypectomy)
What are the causes of dysphagia?
Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing -> exclude malignancy!
Causes:
- Oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal?
- Mechanical or motility related?
Key questions to ask:
1. Was there difficulty swallowing solids + liquids from the start?
Yes = motility disorder (I.e. Achalasia - coordinated peristalsis lost, CNS, or pharyngeal causes)
No = solids then liquids suspect a stricture (benign or malignant)
- Is it difficult to initiate a swallowing movement?
Yes = suspect bulbar palsy, especially if patient coughs on swallowing - Is swallowing painful (odynophagia)?
Yes = suspect ulceration (malignancy, esophagitis, viral infection, candida in immunocompromised, poor steroid inhaler technique) or spasm - Is the dysphagia intermittent or constant and getting worse?
Intermittent = suspect esophageal spasm
Constant and worsening = malignant stricture - Does the neck bulge or gurgle on drinking?
Yes = suspect a pharyngeal pouch
What are risk factors for esophageal cancer?
- Male
- GORD
- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Tylosis (palmar hyperkeratosis)
- Plummer-Vinson syndrome (post-cricoid dysphagia, upper esophageal web + iron-deficiency)
What are the possible different appearances of vomit and what do they indicate?
Coffee grounds = upper GI bleed
Recognisable food = gastric stasis
Feculent = small bowel obstruction
What does the timing of the vomiting tell you about the condition?
Morning = pregnancy or increased ICP
1h post food = gastric stasis/gastroparesis (DM)
Vomiting that relieves pain = peptic ulcer
Preceded by loud gurgling = GI obstruction
Name an anti-emetic from each class
H1 - cyclizine
D2 - Metoclopramide
5HT3 - ONdansetron
Others - Hyoscine Hydrobromide