Gastrointestinal Flashcards
What is inflammatory bowel disease?
- umbrella term for disease causing inflammation of the GI tract
- associated with periods of remission and exacerbation
- crohn’s and ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s vs UC: Crohn’s
NESTS
- no blood or mucous (less common)
- entire GI tract
- skip lesions on endoscopy
- terminal ileum most affected and transmural (full thickness) inflammation
- smoking is a risk factor
also associated with weight loss, strictures and fistulas
Crohn’s vs UC: UC
CLOSEUP
- continuous inflammation
- limited to colon and rectum
- only superficial mucosa affected
- smoking is protective
- excrete blood and mucus
- use aminosalicyclates
- primary sclerosing cholangitis
Presentation of inflammatory bowel disease
- diarrhoea
- abdominal pain
- passing blood
- weight loss
Testing for inflammatory bowel disease
- routine bloods
- CRP → inflammation and active disease
- faecal calprotectin
- DIAGNOSTIC = endoscopy (OGD/colonoscopy) with biopsy
- imaging → complications
What is faecal calprotectin?
- released by intestines when inflamed
- >90% sensitive and specific to IBD in adults
What does management of IBD involve?
- inducing remission
- maintaining remission
- surgery
Inducing remission in Crohn’s
- steroids → oral prednisolone, IV hydrocortisone
- consider adding immunosuppressants
What immunosuppressants can be used in Crohn’s
- azathioprine
- mercaptopurine
- methotrexate
- infliximab
- adalimumab
Maintaining remission in Crohn’s
based on risks, side effects, nature of the disease, patient’s wishes
- azathioprine, mercaptopurine
alternatives = rest of the immunosuppressants
Surgery in Crohn’s
- if only distal ileum affected → surgical resection of area to prevent further flare ups
- treat stricture and fistulas
Inducing remission in UC
mild to moderate
- aminosalicylates eg mesalazine
- corticosteroids eg prednisolone
severe
- IV corticosteroids eg hydrocortisone
- IV ciclosporin
Maintaining remission in UC
- aminosalicylates
- azathioprine
- mercaptopurine
Surgery in UC
- removal of colon and rectum → panproctocolectomy
- patient left with permanent ileostomy or ileo-anal anastomosis
What is IBS?
- functional bowel disorder
- no identifiable organic disease underlying symptoms
- result of abnormal functioning of normal bowel
- very common, more common if young/female
Symptoms of IBS
ABCDEF
- abdominal pain
- bloating
- constipation
- diarrhoea
- eating makes it worse
- fluctuating bowel habit
- improved by opening bowels
Diagnostic criteria of IBS
diagnosis of exclusion
- normal bloods
- faecal calprotectin -ve
- coeliac disease serology -ve
- cancer not suspected/excluded
Management of IBS
- general healthy diet and exercise advice
- loperamide for diarrhoea, linaclotide for constipation, antispasmodics for cramps
- tricyclic antidepressants
- SSRIs
can also offer CBT
What is coeliac disease?
- exposure to gluten = autoimmune reaction that causes inflammation in small bowel
- usually develops in early childhood
Pathophysiology of coeliac disease
- auto-antibodies created in response to gluten
- target epithelial cells of the intestine → inflammation
- affects small bowel esp jejunum
- causes atrophy of intestinal villi and crypt hypertrophy
- malabsorption of nutrients → symptoms
Presentation of coeliac disease
- often asymptomatic
- failure to thrive in children
- diarrhoea
- fatigue
- weight loss
- mouth ulcers
- anaemia secondary to iron, B12, folate deficiency
- dermatitis herpetiformis
- neurological symptoms (rare)
What is dermatitis herpetiformis?
itchy blistering skin rash that typically appears on the abdomen
Diagnosis of coeliac
- raised anti-TTG
- raised anti-EMA
- total IgA levels → exclude IgA deficiency first
- endoscopy and intestinal biopsy → crypt hypertrophy and villous atrophy
What auto-antibodies are created in response to gluten?
- anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG)
- anti-endomysial (anti-EMA)
What conditions are associated with coeliac disease?
- T1DM
- thyroid disease
- autoimmune hepatitis
- PBC
- PSC
- Down’s syndrome
Complications of coeliac disease
- vitamin deficiency
- anaemia
- osteoporosis
- ulcerative jejunitis
- non-hodgkin’s lymphoma
Treatment for coeliac diease
lifelong gluten free diet
What is GORD?
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- acid from stomach refluxes through the lower oesophageal sphincter and irritates lining of oesophagus
Why is the oesophagus more sensitive to stomach acid?
the epithelial lining is squamous
Presentation of GORD
- dyspepsia
- heartburn
- acid regurgitation
- retrosternal/epigastric pain
- bloating
- nocturnal cough
- hoarse voice
Diagnosis of GORD
- clinical diagnosis
- refer for endoscopy if red flags
When would you refer for an endoscopy?
- dysphagia
- > 55yrs
- weight loss
- upper abdominal pain/reflux
- treatment resistant dyspepsia
- N&V
- anaemia
- raised platelets
Management for GORD
- lifestyle advice
- acid neutralising medications → gaviscon, rennies
- PPIs → reduce stomach acid eg omeprazole, lansoprazole
- ranitidine = alternative to PPIs
surgery = laparascopic fundoplication → tie fundus of stomach around lower oesophagus → narrows lower oesophageal sphincter
What lifestyle advice would you suggest for GI problems?
- reduce tea, coffee, alcohol
- weight loss
- avoid smoking
- smaller, lighter meals
- avoid heavy meals before bed time
- stay upright after meals
What is a peptic ulcer?
ulceration of the mucosa of the stomach (gastric) or duodenum (duodenal)
duodenal are more common
Risk factors of peptic ulcers
- h.pylori
- NSAIDs/SSRIs/steroids
- smoking
gastric → stress
duodenal → alcohol
Presentation of peptic ulcers
epigastric pain
- gastric = worse on eating, relieved by antacids
- duodenal = before meals and at night, relieved by eating/milk
- N&V
- dyspepsia
- bleeding causing haematemesis, coffee ground vomiting, maelaena
- iron deficiency anaemia
Diagnosis of peptic ulcers
- h.pylori test → urease breath test
- endoscopy if red flags
Treatment for peptic ulcers
- lifestyle modification
- treat cause
- high dose PPIs
Complications of peptic ulcer
- haemorrhage
- perforation
- gastric outflow obstruction
- malignancy
What is appendicitis?
- inflammation of the appendix
- peak incidence = 10-20
- less common in young children and adults over 50
Pathophysiology of appendicitis
- pathogens can get trapped due to obstruction at the point where appendix meets bowel
- infection and inflammation
- may proceed to gangrene and rupture
- faecal contents and infective material are released into peritoneal cavity
- peritonitis → inflammation of peritoneal lining
Signs and symptoms of appendicitis
KEY FEATURE = abdominal pain
- loss of appetite
- N&V
- low-grade fever
- Rovsing’s sign → palpation of LIF causes pain in RIF
- guarding on palpation
- rebound tenderness in RIF
- percussion tenderness
Describe abdominal pain in appendicitis
- starts as central
- moves down to RIF within first 24hrs
- eventually becomes localised in RIF
- on palpation → tenderness at McBurney’s point
What is McBurney’s point
1/3 of the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus
Diagnosis of appendicitis
- based on clinical presentation and raised inflammatory markers
- GOLD STANDARD = CT → confirms diagnosis
- US to exclude female pathology
Differential diagnoses for appendicitis
- ectopic pregnancy
- ovarian cysts
- Meckel’s diverticulum = malformation of distal ileum
- mesenteric adenitis
Management of appendicitis
- appendicectomy
- laparoscopic preferred → less risks and faster recovery
Complications of appendidectomy
- damage to other organs eg bowel, bladder
- removal of normal appendix
What is a diverticulum?
- a pouch/pocket in the bowel wall
- 0.5-1cm
- diverticulosis = diverticula without inflammation or infection
- diverticular disease = if patients have symptoms
- diverticulitis = inflammation and infection of diverticula
Pathophysiology of diverticula
- wall of LI contains a layer of circular muscle
- weaker in areas penetrated by blood vessels
- increased pressure can cause a gap to form
- mucus herniates through muscle layer and forms diveritcula
do not form in the rectum
Diverticulosis
- wear and tear of bowel
- most commonly in sigmoid colon
- diagnosis = colonoscopy or CT
- treatment not needed if asymptomatic
- high fibre diet, bulk-forming laxatives
Presentation of diverticulitis
- pain and tenderness in LIF
- fever
- D,N&V
- rectal bleeding
- palpable abdominal mass
- rasied inflammatory markers
Management of diverticulitis
- oral co-amoxiclav (5 days)
- analgesia (not NSAIDs or opiates)
- clear liquids until symptoms improve
severe
- manage like acute abdomen/sepsis
Complications of diverticulitis
- perforation
- peritonitis
- peridiverticular disease
- large haemorrhage
- fistula
What is acute gastritis?
acute inflammation of the stomach mucosa due to imbalance between mucus defence and acid