Gastrointestinal Flashcards
IBD
Comparing Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, comment on the following for Crohn’s…
i) location?
ii) inflammation area?
iii) continuous?
iv) smoking?
v) goblet cells?
vi) histology?
vii) enema finding?
i) Mouth>anus, favours terminal ileum
ii) Transmural
iii) No – skip lesions
iv) Risk factor
v) Present
vi) Granulomas, cobblestone appearance on colonoscopy
vii) Fistula = string sign of Kantor
IBD
Comparing Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, comment on the following for ulcerative colitis…
i) location?
ii) inflammation area?
iii) continuous?
iv) smoking?
v) goblet cells?
vi) histology?
vii) enema finding?
i) Colon only (never further than ileocaecal valve) + starts at rectum
ii) Mucosa only
iii) Yes
iv) Protective factor
v) Depletion
vi) Increased crypt abscesses, pseudopolyps
vii) Lead pipe colon = loss of haustrations
IBD
What is the clinical presentation of Crohn’s disease?
What are some extra-intestinal findings more related to Crohn’s disease?
What are some complications of Crohn’s disease?
- Triad = abdominal pain (RLQ), diarrhoea (non-bloody) + weight loss
- Gallstones due to reduced bile salt reabsorption in terminal ileum
- Colorectal cancer, perianal disease (skin tags, fissures, abscesses, fistulas), strictures, bowel obstruction
IBD
What is the clinical presentation of ulcerative colitis?
What are some extra-intestinal findings more related to ulcerative colitis?
What are some complications of ulcerative colitis?
- Triad = bloody diarrhoea, colicky LLQ pain + tenesmus
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis
- Toxic megacolon, colorectal cancer
IBD
What are some extra-intestinal features that are present in both types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
- Arthritis
- Erythema nodosum
- Pyoderma gangrenosum
- Uveitis + episcleritis
- Finger clubbing
IBD
What initial investigations would you do for IBD and what might they show?
- FBC = microcytic anaemia, raised WCC + platelets
- LFTs = low albumin (malabsorption)
- Raised ESR/CRP (inflammation)
- Stool MC&S to exclude infection
- Faecal calprotectin (released by intestines when inflamed, useful screen)
IBD
What is the diagnostic investigation for IBD?
What other investigations would you do?
What investigations would you not do in acute ulcerative colitis, why and what could you do instead?
- Colonoscopy with biopsy
- Barium enema, CT/MRI to check complications
- Avoid barium enema/colonoscopy due to perforation risk, flexible sigmoidoscopy is preferred
IBD
How would you induce remission in Crohn’s disease?
- Enteral feed 6–8w paeds if cautious of steroids
- PO prednisolone/IV hydrocortisone 1st line, ?add azathioprine or mercaptopurine
- Biologics like infliximab or adalimumab if fail to respond
IBD
How do you maintain remission in Crohn’s disease?
What investigation would you order first?
- Azathioprine or mercaptopurine = 1st line, measure thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity first
- If not methotrexate
- Biologics infliximab, adalimumab
IBD
What surgery might you consider in Crohn’s disease?
- Resections for complications (fistulae, abscess)
IBD
How do you classify the severity of ulcerative colitis?
- Mild = <4 stools/day, small amount of blood
- Moderate = 4–6 stools/day, varying blood, no systemic upset
- Severe = >6 bloody stools/day + systemic upset (pyrexia, shock)
IBD
How do you induce remission in mild-moderate ulcerative colitis?
What is a side effect of the first line management?
- First line = topical (PR) aminosalicylate (5-ASA) mesalazine if not PO
- Second line = PO prednisolone
- Sulfasalazine (lung fibrosis, anaemia), mesalazine (pancreatitis) + both (agranulocytosis)
IBD
How do you induce remission in severe ulcerative colitis?
- Hospital admission
- IV steroids
- ?IV ciclosporin after 72h if still unwell
IBD
How do you maintain remission in ulcerative colitis if…
i) mild-moderate?
ii) severe relapse or ≥2/year?
i) PR/PO 5-ASA
ii) PO azathioprine or mercaptopurine
IBD
When would you consider surgery in ulcerative colitis and what’s the options?
- Medical therapy fails to induce remission
- Panproctocolectomy = curative as removes disease
- Either permanent ileostomy or ileo-anal anastomosis (J-pouch) where ileum is folded back on itself + fashioned into a large pouch that functions as a rectum as it attaches to the rectum
COELIAC DISEASE
What is the pathophysiology of coeliac disease?
- Autoimmune condition where response to alpha-gliadin portion of the protein gluten causes inflammation in small intestine, particularly jejunum
- Autoantibodies in response to gluten exposure target intestinal epithelial cells leading to inflammation + atrophy of intestinal villi > malabsorption
COELIAC DISEASE
What is the genetic association with coeliac disease?
What conditions are associated with coeliac disease and would prompt screening?
- HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8
- T1DM, thyroid disease, Down’s syndrome, FHx
COELIAC DISEASE
What is the clinical presentation of coeliac disease?
- Abnormal stools (smelly, floating, diarrhoea)
- Abdo pain, distension + buttock wasting
- Paeds = failure to thrive, weight loss
- Dermatitis herpetiformis = itchy blistering skin rash often on abdomen
COELIAC DISEASE
What is crucial when investigating for coeliac disease?
What first line investigations would you do?
- Gluten-containing diet for 6w for accuracy
- IgA Ab = Anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG first line) and anti-endomysial as well as total IgA as deficiency can give false negative results
COELIAC DISEASE
What is the diagnostic investigation for coeliac disease and what will it show?
- Endoscopic small intestinal biopsy
- Villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia + increased intraepithelial lymphocytes
COELIAC DISEASE
What are some complications of coeliac disease?
- Anaemia (iron/B12/folate)
- Osteoporosis
- Lymphoma (EATL)
- Hyposplenism
- Lactose intolerance
- Subfertility
COELIAC DISEASE
What is the most important management in coeliac disease?
What other parts of the management is there?
- Lifelong gluten free diet curative under dietician
- ?Gluten challenge later if Dx <2y to ensure still intolerant
- PCV vaccine with booster every 5y due to hyposplenism
OESOPHAGEAL CANCER
What are the two types of oesophageal cancer?
Where are they found?
What are the risk factors?
- Adenocarcinoma = most common type in UK/US, lower third oesophagus, RF = GORD, Barrett’s, smoking, obesity, achalasia
- Squamous cell = most common in developing world, upper two-thirds oesophagus, RF = smoking, alcohol, achalasia, Plummer-Vinson syndrome + nitrosamines (fish)
OESOPHAGEAL CANCER
What is the clinical presentation of oesophageal cancer?
- Dysphagia = most common, often solids > liquids
- Anorexia, vomiting, weight loss
- Odynophagia, hoarseness
OESOPHAGEAL CANCER
What are the 2ww criteria for oesophageal cancer?
What is the first-line investigation?
- Dysphagia OR ≥55y with weight loss and any of: upper abdo pain, reflux or dyspepsia
- Upper GI endoscopy (OGD)
OESOPHAGEAL CANCER
What other investigations would you do in oesophageal cancer?
- Staging CT chest, abdo + pelvis after endoscopy
- Endoscopic USS preferred method for regional staging
OESOPHAGEAL CANCER
What is Barrett’s oesophagus and some risk factors?
- Intestinal metaplasia of lower oesophageal mucosa with the usual squamous epithelium being replaced by columnar
- GORD = #1, male, smoking, obesity
OESOPHAGEAL CANCER
What is the management of Barrett’s oesophagus?
- High dose PPI
- Endoscopic surveillance + biopsies if metaplasia every 3–5y
- Dysplasia detected of any grade = endoscopic mucosal resection or radiofrequency ablation
OESOPHAGEAL CANCER
What is the management of oesophageal cancer?
What is a complication of this?
- Surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy
- Anastomotic leak > mediastinitis
GASTRIC CANCER
What are the two main types of gastric cancer and their different features?
What are the risk factors for gastric cancer?
- Intestinal type adenocarcinoma = lesser curvature
- Diffuse type adenocarcinoma = signet ring cells which high numbers are associated with worse prognosis
- Helicobacter pylori, atrophic gastritis, smoking + nitrosamines
GASTRIC CANCER
What is the clinical presentation of gastric cancer?
- Epigastric pain, dyspepsia + progressive dysphagia
- Weight loss, N+V, early satiety
- Lymphatic spread = left supraclavicular (Virchow’s node) and periumbilical (Sister Mary Joseph’s node)
GASTRIC CANCER
What are the investigations for gastric cancer?
- OGD + biopsy
- CT/MRI for staging
GASTRIC CANCER
What is the management of gastric cancer?
- Surgical = endoscopic mucosal resection, partial/total gastrectomy
- Chemotherapy
COLORECTAL CANCER
What are the two broad aetiological groups for colorectal cancer?
What are some risk factors?
- Sporadic (95%) and inherited autosomal dominant (5%)
- FHx, IBD, increased age, high red meat diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol
COLORECTAL CANCER
What are three inherited causes of colorectal cancer?
- Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma (Lynch syndrome) = #1
- Familial adenomatous polyposis
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
COLORECTAL CANCER
What is the pathology of lynch syndrome?
What other condition are individuals at risk of?
- Mutation of mismatch repair genes
- Endometrial cancer
COLORECTAL CANCER
What is the pathology of familial adenomatous polyposis?
What is the management?
- Mutation in APC gene > formation of hundreds of colonic polyps
- Panproctocolectomy
COLORECTAL CANCER
What are the clinical features of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome?
- Pigmented lesions on lips, oral mucosa, palms
- Multiple GI hamartomatous polyps
COLORECTAL CANCER
What is the clinical presentation of colorectal cancer?
- Right sided = IDA + weight loss
- Left sided = PR bleeding, altered bowel habit + bowel obstruction
- Rectal = fresh bleeding, tenesmus, mass
COLORECTAL CANCER
What are the 2ww criteria for colorectal cancer and what investigation do they get?
- ≥60 with change in bowel habit OR IDA
- ≥50 with unexplained rectal bleeding
- ≥40 with abdo pain AND unexplained weight loss
- Gastroscopy and colonoscopy
COLORECTAL CANCER
Explain the screening programme for colorectal cancer
What else can it be used for?
- Faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) for human Hb in stool replacing faecal occult blood test which gave false positives from blood in food
- Every 2 years those 60–74y (can request after 74y) and if abnormal > colonoscopy
- Also used if do not meet 2ww criteria
COLORECTAL CANCER
What investigations are used in diagnosing colorectal cancer?
- Colonoscopy + biopsy = gold standard
- CT colonography with bowel prep if less fit for colonoscopy
- Staging CT with Dukes’ classification
- Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) = tumour marker with role in monitoring/follow-up
COLORECTAL CANCER
What are the stages in the Dukes’ classification?
- A = confined to bowel mucosa
- B = extends through bowel wall
- C = local lymph node spread
- D = distant metastases
COLORECTAL CANCER
For the following colorectal cancer sites, state the type of resection and anastamosis…
i) caecal, ascending or proximal transverse colon?
ii) distal transverse or descending colon?
iii) sigmoid colon?
iv) upper rectum?
v) lower rectum?
vi) anal verge?
i) Right hemicolectomy = ileo-colic
ii) Left hemicolectomy = colo-colon
iii) High anterior resection = colo-rectal
iv) Anterior resection (total mesorectal excision, TME) = colo-rectal
v) Anterior resection (low TME) = colo-rectal ±defunctioning stoma
vi) Abdomino-perineal excision of rectum = none
COLORECTAL CANCER
What are some complications of colorectal cancer surgery?
- Pain, infection and bleeding
- Anastomotic leak
- Post-op ileus
COLORECTAL CANCER
In an emergency situation where the bowel has perforated, what is the management?
- Anastomosis risk so sigmoid colectomy with end colostomy which can be reversed later = Hartmann’s
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE
What is the pathophysiology of peptic ulcer disease (PUD)?
What are some risk factors?
- Breach in the mucosa due to breakdown of protective layer or increased acid
- Stress, alcohol, caffeine, smoking, spicy foods = increased acid
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE
What is the most common cause of PUD?
What are some other causes?
- Helicobacter pylori (95% duodenal, 75% gastric)
- Drugs = NSAIDs, SSRIs, corticosteroids + bisphosphonates
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome = rare gastrin-secreting tumour > excess gastrin
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE
What is the mechanism by which NSAIDs cause PUD?
- Reversible inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase (COX1+2) > reduced prostaglandins = decreases mucus + bicarb secretion
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE
What is the clinical presentation of PUD?
- Epigastric pain with heartburn + nausea
- Duodenal = PAIN when HUNGRY + RELIEVED by EATING
- Gastric = PAIN when EATING + RELIEVED by HUNGER
- Haematemesis = “coffee ground” vomit + melaena
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE
What are some investigations for PUD?
- H. pylori urea breath test or stool antigen test = first line
- Endoscopy ± biopsies (gastric) ± rapid urease (CLO) test for H. pylori too
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE
What are some potential complications of PUD?
- Upper GI bleed = gastroduodenal artery
- Perforation = acute abdo + peritonitis = erect CXR (free air under diaphragm)
- Scarring and strictures > pyloric stenosis
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE
What lifestyle advice would you give in PUD?
How do you manage H. pylori related PUD?
How do you manage H. pylori -ve PUD?
- Stop smoking, alcohol, avoid acidic foods + NSAIDs
- Triple eradication therapy = PO PPI + amoxicillin + metronidazole OR clarithromycin for 7d
- High-dose PPI for 4–8w
UPPER GI BLEED
What are some causes of an upper GI bleed?
- Peptic ulceration
- Oesophageal varices (esp. if stigmata of liver disease)
- Mallory Weiss tear = brisk small-mod bright red blood, after straining)
- Malignancy
UPPER GI BLEED
What is the clinical presentation of an upper GI bleed?
- Haematemesis = “coffee ground” vomit
- Melaena = black, tarry stools
- Shock
UPPER GI BLEED
What initial investigations would you do in an upper GI bleed?
- FBC
- U&E (high urea due to protein meal of blood)
- LFTs and clotting
- Crossmatch 4–6 units (O -ve if emergency activating major haemorrhage protocol)
UPPER GI BLEED
What 2 risk assessments are used in acute upper GI bleeds?
What are the various parameters?
How are they applied clinically?
- Glasgow-Blatchford score at first assessment = Hb, urea, SBP + other parameters
- Rockall score can be pre/post-endoscopy = age, shock, co-morbidities, endoscopic findings
- For both >0 = inpatient OGD, 0 = urgent OP OGD
UPPER GI BLEED
What is the initial emergency management of an acute upper GI bleed?
- A–E assessment
- 2x wide bore IV access, NBM, IV fluids + blood transfusion if Hb <70g/L
- Platelet transfusion if <50 + FFP in major haemorrhage
- Anticoagulant reversal (e.g., IV vitamin K + PCC)
UPPER GI BLEED
What should be done after resuscitiation?
- OGD offered immediately if severe bleed
- ALL patients should have OGD within 24h
UPPER GI BLEED
What is the management of a non-variceal bleed?
- NICE do not recommend pre-endoscopy PPIs as can mask the bleed site
- If further bleeding > repeat endoscopy, interventional radiology + surgery
UPPER GI BLEED
What is the management of a variceal bleed?
- Terlipressin + prophylactic Abx before endoscopy
- Endoscopic band ligation of varices
- Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) if variceal bleeding not controlled with above
- Uncontrolled variceal bleeding = ?Sengstaken-Blakemore tube
APPENDICITIS
What is the pathophysiology of appendicitis?
- Faecolith causes obstruction of appendiceal lumen allowing gut organisms to invade the appendix wall > oedema, ischaemia ± perforation
APPENDICITIS
What is the classic presentation of appendicitis and why does it occur?
What other symptoms may the patient experience?
- Central abdo pain initially (appendix is midgut structure) which migrates to RIF (localised parietal peritoneal inflammation)
- Anorexia, N+V (often only 1–2x vomiting), fever
APPENDICITIS
What are some signs of appendicitis?
- RIF tenderness
- Rovsing’s sign
- Guarding
- Rebound/percussion tenderness
APPENDICITIS
What initial investigations would you do in appendicitis?
- FBC (raised WCC, neutrophil dominant), VBG (lactate), U&E, LFTs, amylase, clotting, G&S for theatre + blood cultures if septic
- Urinalysis (leukocytes)
- Urine pregnancy test if childbearing age
APPENDICITIS
What imaging might you consider in appendicitis?
- USS pelvis in women if ?gynae pathology
- CT abdomen = most sensitive imaging to Dx but not routinely used
APPENDICITIS
What are some potential complications of appendicitis
- Perforation > faecal contents in peritoneal cavity > peritonitis = copious abdominal lavage
- Local abscess
APPENDICITIS
What is the management of appendicitis?
- Laparoscopic appendicectomy with prophylactic IV Abx prior
- If appendix mass (omentum), broad spectrum Abx + interval appendicectomy
SEPSIS
What is the difference between sepsis and septic shock?
- Sepsis = life-threatening organ dysfunction (confusion, hypoxia, oliguria, metabolic acidosis) due to a dysregulated host response to infection
- Septic shock = sepsis PLUS hypotension despite fluid resus or lactic acidosis
SEPSIS
What is the clinical presentation of sepsis?
- Fever/sweats/chills, SOB, N+V, confusion
- Signs = shock (tachycardic, hypotensive), pyrexia, CRT >2s, hypoxia, high RR