Gastroenterology / General surgery Flashcards
Definition of colic
Pain in a hollow organ, contraction causes the pain to come in waves
Presentation of acute abdomen
Acute tenderness over the abdomen Guarding Rigidity of the abdomen ABSENCE OF BOWEL SOUNDS Septic - sweating, pale, weak pulse, shallow breath
Associated symptoms in an abdo pain hx
Vomiting Haematemasis Eating / drinking Swallowing Stools - loose / blood Urine - frequency, urgency, blood Vaginal discharge Menstruation FEVER Weight loss Night sweats
Abdo pain investigations
1) Bloods
2) Bedside
3) Imaging
FBC, U&E, LFT, glucose, CRP, amylase
Urine dip - glucose, infection, pregnancy
CXR - perforation
USS abdo
CT
5 Fs of abdo distension
Fluid, foetus, flatus, fat and faeces
To complete an abdominal examination
Hernial orifices External genitalia PR Urine dip Stool sample if feel appropriate
Where is McBurneys point
2/3 of the way between umbilicus and AIDS
Rovsings sign
Press on RIF and pain in the LIF
What needs to be ruled out in females with suspected appendicitis ?
Ectopic preg
Bed side tests in appendicitis
Urine dip
BM
Preg test
BP
Blood tests in suspected appendicitis
FBC
U&Es
CRP
Imagining in suspected appendicitis?
USS
AB used in appendicitis
Metronidazole and cefuroxime
What should be considered with any change in bowel habit?
malignancy
GI causes of diarrhoea
Infection Malignancy IBD IBS Malabsorption
Systemic causes of diarrhoea
Endocrine
Anxiety
Bacterial overgrowth
Drugs causing diarrhoea
Laxatives
AB
SSRIs
Metformin
Infections leading to blood in stool (4)
E.coli
Shigella
Salmonella
Campylobacter
Social hx in diarrhoea hx
Travel hx
Bed side test with diarrhoea
PR (overflow due to constipation)
Urine dip and culture
Stool sample - viral / bacterial / occult blood
Blood tests in diarrhoea
FBC UandEs LFTs CRP TFTs
Non bedside tests in diarrhoea
GI endoscopy
Imaging in diarrhoea
Abdo x-ray
Abdo US
Treatment of diarrhoea
Treat the cause
Rehydrate
Slow bowel movements (?) - opioids / stop medication
GI causes of N and V
Infection - pancreatitis, pyelonephritis, gastroenteritis, cholecystitis
Obstruction
Inflammatiom
Metabolic causes of N and V
Diabetic ketoacidosis Raised calcium Low sodium Addisions Pregnancy
Neurological causes of N and V
Head trauma
Tumour
Motion sickness
Menieres
Cardiac cause of N and V
Heart attack
Drugs commonly causing N and V
Opioid
AB
Chemo
Alcohol
NICE guideline for referral for suspected bowel cancer
They are aged 40 and over with unexplained weight loss and abdominal pain or
They are aged 50 and over with unexplained rectal bleeding or
They are aged 60 and over with:
Iron-deficiency anaemia or
Changes in their bowel habit
Tests show occult blood in their faeces (new NICE recommendation for 2015).
Presentation of bowel cancer in RHS
Diarrhoea Weight loss Anaemia RIF mass Abdo pain
OFTEN LATE PRESENTING
Presentation of bowel cancer in LHS
Constipation
Bleeding
Mucus
Tenesmus
Signs on exam of bowel cancer
Abdominal mass Enlarged liver (mets) Rectal mass Signs of iron deficiency anaemia
Blood tests in suspected bowel cancer
FBC - look for iron deficiency anaemia
LFT
UandE
CEA - monitor progress
Investigation options in suspected bowel cancer
Colonoscopy
Barium swallow
Imagining - MR / endorectal US
Caecum and right colon affected - surgery ->
Right hemicolectomy
Transverse segment affected - surgery ->
Extended Right hemicolectomy
Descending colon affected - surgery ->
Left hemicolectomy
Sigmoid colon affected surgery ->
sigmoid colectomy
Rectum affected surgery ->
Anterior resection
Low rectum affected surgery ->
abdo-perineal resection with PERMANENT COLOSTOMY
When should radiotherapy be done in bowel cancer?
preoperatively
Screening for bowel cancer in the UK
Flex sigmoidoscopy - age 55+
FOB 70 -74 (male and female)
90% of oesophageal malignancies are?
squamous cell carcinoma
which type of cancer is associated with barretts oesophagus?
adenocarcinoma
Risk factors for oesophageal cancer
Smoking Alcohol Barrets Diet Coeliac disease
Which virus is squamous cell carcinomas associated with?
HPV
Symptoms of oesophageal cancer
Fatigue Increasing dysphagia Odynophagia Hoarseness Vomiting Haematemisis Cough
Signs of oesophageal cancer
Weight loss Anaemia Lymphadenopathy Hepatomegaly Ascites
Where does oesophageal cancer often metastasise to?
Liver
Tests in oesophageal cancer
Blood - FBC, LFTs
Upper GI endoscopy
Barium swallow
Further imaging for staging
Treatment of oesophageal cancer if no mets / not v advanced
oesophageal resection
Treatment of oesophageal cancer if mets / advanced
palliative
Most gastric carcinomas are?
adenocarcinomas
Risk factors for gastric cancer
h.pylori smoking poor diet blood group A chronic gastritis
Symptoms of gastric cancer
B symptoms vomiting abdo pain dyspepsia dysphagia (oesophageal obstruction) may be an upper GI bleed
Signs of gastric cancer
Palpable epigastric mass
Virchows node - CHECK LYMPH NODES
Blood tests in gastric cacner
FBC
LFTs - mets
Gold standard investigations for gastric cancer
Upper GI endoscopy
Barium swallow
Management in localised gastric cancer
Resection / gastrectomy
Management in metastatic gastric cancer
Palliative
Stents if obstructions etc
Risk factors for pancreatic cancer
Smoking
Diabetes
Pancreatitis
Usual type of cancer in the pancreas?
Ductal adenocarcinoma
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer
Usually painless
Abdo mass
Weight loss
May be non specific back pain
Signs of pancreatic cancer
painless progressive jaundice
Bloods in pancreatic cancer
FBC
LFTs
Investigations in pancreatic cancer
USS
CT
ERCP
Management options in pancreatic cancer
Surgical - whipples
Palliative - stenting and pain relief
Oesophageal cancer referal pathway
URGENT DIRECT ACCESS (2ww)
NON URGENT DIRECR ACCESS
UPPER GI ENDOSCOPY
1) Dysphagia or 55+ and weight loss + one of upper abdo pain, reflux or dyspepsia
2) Haematemesis
55+ other upper GI symptoms
Causes of constipation - medical
Diverticulitis IBD IBS Coeliac Immobility Dehydration Raised calcium / phosphate Parkinsons disease Pregnancy HypoT
Surgical causes of constipation
Appendicitis
Malignancy
Ischaemic bowel
obstruction
Drugs causing constipation
Anti cholinergics
Opiates
Iron
Calcium channel blockers
Important questions with constipation
Normal bowel habit - how many stools per day (? <3 per week) and for how long
Over flow diarrohea
Maelena
Pain
Diet
New medications
Red flags - fever/ weight loss / nightsweats
FOREIGN TRAVEL
Examination in constipation
Abdo and PR
Blood tests in constipation
FBC - haematinics
U&Es
TFTs
LFTs
Imaging in constipation
US
Abdo X-ray
CT - extreme
Conservative management in constipation
Exercise and fibre
Types of laxatives - BOSS
Bulking - e.g. methylcellulose
Osmotic - Lactulose
Softer - Docusate
Stimulants - Senna
Causes of acute pancreatitis
G
E
T
S M A S H E D
Gall stones
Ethanol
Trauma
Steroids MUMPS Autoimmune Scorpion venum Hyperlilipidaemia / hypercalacaemia / hyperparathyroidism ERCP Drugs
Define acute pancreatitis
acute inflammation of the pancreas by autodigestion
Grey turners sign =
haemorrage in the flanks
Cullens sign =
bruising at the umbilicus
Presentation of acute pancreatitis
abdo pain radiating to the back - relieved by sitting forward
NandV
Criteria for clinical outcome for pancreatitis
Glasgow score
Blood tests to do in acute pancreatitis
FBC - increased WBC UandE LFTs Glucose - increased Albumin - reduced Calcium - reduced Urea - raised CRP - increased Amylase - raised Serum lipase - raised
Increased ALT in acute pancreatitis suggests?
gall stone aetiology
Imaging in acute pancreatitis
CXR - check for perforation
Glasgow score to send to intensive care?
> 3
Supportive care in acute pancreatitis
O2 Fluids Analgesics Anti emetics Insulin Antibiotics 5-7 days PPI Regular monitoring
Causes of chronic pancreatitis
Alcohol Hypercalacaemia Hyperparathyrodism Hyperlipidaemia Biliary disease Cystic fibrosis
Clinical feature of chronic pancreatitis
Jaundice Abdo pain - radiates to the back, improves on sitting forward Bloating Steatorhhoea Weight loss
Imaging in chronic pancreatitis
CXR
CT
USS
Dyspepsia =
indigestion
Local causes of dyspepsia
GORD H.pylori Gastritis Ulcer - gastric / duodenal Hiatus hernia
Systemic causes of dyspepsia
Infection
Alcohol
Smoking
Drugs causing dyspepsia
NSAIDS
Steroids
Bisphosphinates