Gastrointestinal Conditions 2 Flashcards
2nd/3rd of GI conditions Will be Lower GI in summer!
What is a GI perforation?
Perforation of the wall of the GI tract with spillage of bowel contents
What causes Large bowel perforations?
Diverticulitis Colorectal cancer Appendicitis Volvulus UC (Toxic megacolon)
What causes Gastroduodenal perforations?
Perforated duodenal or Gastric ulcer
Gastric cancer
What causes Small bowel perforations?
Just to note they are rare!
Trauma
Infections (Ileo-coecal TB)
Crohn’s disease
What is Oesophageal perforation called?
Boerhaave’s perforation
What is Boerhaave’s perforation?
Rupture of the oesophagus following forceful vomiting
What are risk factors for GI perforation?
Risk factors for cause! E.g. Low Residue diet Steroids NSAIDs Bisphosphonates
What are symptoms of GI perforation?
Depends on cause
Large bowel: Peritonitic abdomen pain
Gastroduodenal: Sudden onset severe pain, becomes generalise, malignancy symptoms
Oesophageal: Severe pain, Neck/chest pain and dysphagia
What are signs of GI perforation?
Very unwell
Signs of shock
Pyrexia
Pallor
Dehydration
Signs of peritonitis (Guarding, Rigidity, rebound tenderness, absent bowel sounds)
Loss of liver dullness (due to overlying gas)
What is Blumberg’s sign?
Rebound tenderness!
This is shown by someone pressing on the abdomen and as they release, there is tenderness!
What investigations are done for GI perforation?
FBC U&Es LFTs Amylase - raised but <1000 Erect CXR - air under diaphragm Gastrograffin swallow - for suspected oesophageal perforation
How do you manage perforations generally?
Correct fluid and electrolyte balance
IV ABX - efuroxime and metronidazole
How do you manage large bowel perforations?
Identify site
Peritoneal lavage
Resect perforated section
How do you manage Gastroduodenal perforations?
Laparotomy Peritoneal lavage Close it with an omental patch Biopsy ulcers Eradicate H.Pyloir if thats the cause
How do you manage oesopageal perforations?
Pleural lavage
Repair of rupture oesophagus
What are the comlications of bowel perforations?
Large and Small bowel - Peritonitis
Oesophagus - Mediastinitis
Overall: Shock, sepsis, death
What is the prognosis of those with a Gastroduodenal perforation?
Worse with Gastric than Duodenal ulcers
Poor prognosis for perforated gastric carcinomas
What is the prognosis for those with a large bowel perforation?
High risk of faecal peritonitis if left untreated
Lead to DEATH from septicaemia and multiorgan failure
What is Gastrooesophageal reflux disease?
Symptoms of complications resulting from the reflux of gastric contents into the oesophagus or beyond, into the oral cavity or lung
What causes GORD?
Caused by disruption of mechanisms that prevent reflux:
Lower oesophageal sphincter
Acute angle of junction
Mucosal rosette
Intra-abdominal portion of oesophagus (obesity, pregnancy)
Prolonged oesophageal acid clearance
Increased dietary fat
What is a Mucosal rosette?
Redundant mucosal folds causing a weakened anti-reflux valve
What are the risk factors for GORD?
Family history Older age Hiatus Hernia Obesity Lower oesophageal sphincter tone-reducing drugs (e.g. anticholingergics, nitrates, CCBs) Stress Asthma NSAIDs Smoking Alcohol consumption Per-oral endoscopic myotomy Dietary factors
What are the symptoms of GORD?
Substernal/epiastric burning discomfort or heartburn Halitosis Bloating Aggravated by: Lying supine, bending down, large meals, dirnking alcohol Pain relieved by antacids Waterbrash Aspiration Dysphagia
What is waterbrash?
Regurgitation of an excessive accumulation of saliva from the lower part of the oesophagus often with some acid material from the stomach
What are the signs of GORD?
Usually normal
Occasionally - epigastric tenderness, wheeze on auscultation, dysphonia
Bloating
What are investigations for GORD?
Clinical diagnosis!
If suspected, PPI trial
If GORD persists - OGD and biopsy
Other tests: 24hr pH monitoring, manometry, Barium swallow
How do you manage GORD?
Advice Medicines Endoscopy Surgery Nissen fundoplication
What Advice do you give to someone with GORD?
Weight loss Elevating head of bed Avoid provoking factors Stop smoking Lower fat meals Avoid large meals late in the evening
What medicines do you give to someone with GORD?
Antacids
Alginates
H2 antagonists (e.g. Ranitidine)
PPI (e.g. Omeprazole ,Lansoprazole)
What is Nissen fundoplication?
Fundus of the stomach is wrapped around the lower oesophagus - reduces risk of hiatus hernia and reduce reflex
What are the complications for GORD?
Oesophageal ulcer, haemorrhage or perforation
Oesophageal stricture
Barret’s oesophagus
Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus
What are Haemorrhoids?
Disrupted and dilated anal cushions. Lined by discontinuous masses of spongy vascular tissue
What are the classifications of Haemorrhoids?
Internal
(Arise from the superior haemorrhoidal plexus - above the dentate line)
External (Below the dentate line)
What are the degrees of Haemorrhoids?
1st - Haemorrhoids that do not prolapse
2nd - Prolapse with defecation but reduce spontaneously
3rd - Prolapse and require manual reduction
4th - Prolapse than cannot be reduced
What causes Haemorrhoids?
Increased intra-abdominal pressure
What are the Risk Factors for haemorrhoids?
Age 45-65 Constipation Pregnancy or SOL Hepatic insufficiency Ascites
What are symptoms of Haemorrhoids?
May be asymptomatic Bright red rectal bleeding Anal itching Intense pain if strangulated Lack of FLAWS!
What is FLAWS?
F - Fever L - Lethargy A - Appetite change W - Weight loss S - Night Sweats
What are signs of Haemorrhoids?
1st/2nd degree not visible
Internal haemorrhoids not palpable unless thrombosed
Visible on proctoscopy
What are differentials for Haemorrhoids?
Anal tags Anal fissures Rectal prolapse Polyps Tumours
What are the complications of Haemorrhoids?
Anaemia from continuous/excessive bleeding Thrombosis Incarceration Faecal incontinence Pelvic sepsis Anal stenosis
What is Haemochromatosis?
An autosomal recessive disease in which increased intestinal absorption of iron causes accumulation of iron in tissues, which may lead to iron damage
What causes Haemochromatosis?
AR condition
Caused by defect in HFE gene
Not everyone who is homozygous develop the disease
What are the risk factors for Haemochromatosis?
Middle aged Male White ethnicity Family history Iron supplements
What are symptoms of Haemochromatosis?
Often asymptomatic Fatigue Weakness Arthropathy Erectile dysfunction Heart problems Late symptoms: Diabetes mellitus Bronzed skin Hepatomegaly Impotence Amenorrhoea Hypogonadism Cirrhosis Arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy Neuro and psych problems
What investigations can be done for Haemochromatosis?
Haematinics - Serum ferritin (High), Transferrin (Low), Transferrin saturation (high), TIBC (Low)
CRP - Low
LFT - raised
What is Hepatocellular carcinoma?
Primary malignancy of the liver Parenchyma
What is associated with Hepatocellular carcinoma?
Chronic liver damage (Hep B/C, AI disease)
Metabolic disease (Haematochromatosis)
Aflatoxins (Aspergillus flavus)
What are the symptoms of hepatocellular carcinoma?
Symptoms of malignancy (Malaise, weight loss, loss of appetitie)
Symptoms of chronic liver diseae (Ascites, Jaundice)
What are the signs of Hepatocellular carcinome?
Signs of malignancy - Cachexia, Lymphadenopathy
Hepatomegaly
Jaundice
Ascites
What are the investigations for Hepatocellular carcinoma?
FBC ESR LFTs Clotting AFP - tumour marker B12 binding protein is a marker for fibrolamellar HCC Serology Imaging - US (Not good for small); CT/MRI (Gold standard) Ascitic tap Liver biopsy
What is a Hernia?
Protrusion of a viscus or part of a viscus through a defect of the wall of its containing cavity into abnormal position
What are the 2 main types of Hernia?
Femoral and Inguinal
What is the most common type of Hernia?
Inguinal
Where are hernias found?
Inguinal -Superomedial to the tubercle
Femoral - Inferolateral to teh tubercle
If a Hernia is irreducible what does that mean?
Cannot be pushed back into the right place
What does it mean if a Hernia is incarcerated?
Contents of the hernia are stuck inside by adhesions
When is a Hernia strangulated?
When they become ischaemia
What is an Inguinal Hernia?
Abnormal protrusion of the peritoneal sac through a weakness of the abdominal wall
What are the 2 types of inguinal hernia?
Direct and Indirect
What is a Direct inguinal hernia?
Protrusion of the hernial sac through a weakness in the posterior wall of the inguinal cancal - through Hesselbach’s triangle, medially to the inferior epigastric vessels
What is Hesselbach’s triangle?
Border of Rectus Abdominis, INferior epigastric vessels and the inguinal ligament
What is an indirect inguinal hernia?
Protrusion of the hernia through the deep inguinal ring, following the inguinal canal
Who are inguinal hernias more common in?
Men
55-85
Who are femoral hernias more common in?
Women
Increasing age
Pregnancy (more pregnancies)
Increased intra-abdominal pressure
What is a Femoral Hernia?
Abdominal contents pass through a naturally occurring weakness call the femoral canal and present as a mass in the upper medial thigh
What are the Risk Factors for inguinal hernias?
Male sex Old age Smoking Family history Prematurity AAA Marfans Lathyrism Chronic bronchitis/emphysema
What are the risk factors for femoral hernias?
Female
Increasing age
Pregnancy
Increased intra-abdominal pressure
What symptoms are there of inguinal hernias?
Often asymptomatic Notices lump in groin May be painful May be irreducible May present due to growth
What signs are there of Inguinal hernias?
Groin lump that extends to scrotum/labia
Check cough impulse
Tender if strangulated
How can you tell between direct and indirect on examination?
Reduce hernia and occlude deep internal ring with 2 fingers
Ask to cough / stand, if restrained it is Indirect
Gold standard: Direct are medial to inferior epigastric vessels, Indirect are lateral
What are the symptoms of femoral hernias?
Lump in groin
Usually asymptomatic
30% present as an emergency due to obstruction or strangulation
What are the signs of femoral hernia on examination?
Look for B/L lumps
Ask to reduce and ask to cough
If no lump visible assess cough reflex
Repeat exam with patient standing
What investigations are done for all Hernias?
Only done if acute with painful irreducible hernia!
FBC
CRP
ABG - show lactic acidosis from bowel ischaemia
Erect CXR - check for perforation
What is the management of Inguinal hernias?
Surgical - only if symptomatic
Laparoscpic mesh repair
Emergency - if obstructed or strangulated - need laparotomy with bowel resection if gangrenous
What is the management for Femoral Hernias?
Surgical repair
- Herniotomy (Ligation and excision of the sac)
- Herniorrhaphy (Repair of hernial defect)
What are complications of Inguinal hernias?
Incarceration Strangulation Maydl's hernia Richter's hernia Surgery complications Haematoma Penile/scrotal oedema Mesh infection Testicular ischaemia
What are complications of Femoral hernias?
High risk of strangulation !
Risk of becoming irreducible or obstructed
Wound infection
What is a Maydl’s hernia?
Strangulated w-shaped loop of S.Bowel
What is a Richter’s hernia?
Strangulation of part of the bowel circumference
What is a Hiatus Hernia?
Herniation of part of the abdominal viscera through the Oesophageal aperture of the diaphragm
What causes a Hiatus Hernia?
Unknown aetiology
Raised intraabdomianl pressure causes phsyiological movement of the distal oesophagus and possible the gastro-oesophageal junction through the oesophageal hiatus and into the posterior mediastinum