Gastrointestinal - Level 3 Flashcards
Definition of achalasia?
- Oesophageal motor disorder characterised by loss of oesophageal peristalsis and failure of lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation in response to swallowing
- Results from denervation of oesophageal myenteric plexus
- Causes functional stenosis or stricture
Definition of pseudoachalasia?
o Achalasia-pattern dilatation of oesophagus due to narrowing of distal oesophagus from cause other than primary denervation
o E.g. Malignancy
Epidemiology of achalasia?
- Incidence peaks at 60
Triggers of achalasia?
o Infection – Chagas, herpes, measles
o Autoimmunity – HLA Class 2
Genetic
Symptoms of achalasia?
- Dysphagia o Solids more than soft foods and liquids o Posturing to aid swallowing - Food bolus impaction - Regurgitation - Chest pain o After eating, retrosternal - Heartburn - Loss of weight – think malignancy
Investigations in suspected achalasia?
- Endoscopy
- Barium Swallow
- Manometry of Oesophagus
- CXR
- Lower oesophageal pH monitoring
Endoscopy findings of achalasia?
o Essential first-line investigation to exclude malignancy
o Biopsies from cardia performed to exclude pseudoachalasia
Barium swallow findings of achalasia?
o Oesophagus dilated, contrast material passes slowly into stomach as sphincter opens intermittently
o Birds beak appearance of distal oesophagus
Manometry findings of achalasia?
o Gold standard – high resting pressure in cardiac sphincter, incomplete relaxation on swallowing and absent peristalsis
CXR findings of achalasia?
o Classical - vastly dilated oesophagus behind heart
Management of achalasia - medical - when and what?
Medical (waiting for definitive treatment OR if unable to tolerate other forms of treatment)
o Calcium channel blockers (Nifedipine OR Verapamil)
o Nitrates
Management of achalasia - surgical?
Laparoscopic Heller myotomy (cardio-myotomy)
Muscle fibres of lower oesophagus divided in a longitudinal direction above stomach
Pneumatic Dilatation
If unfit for myotomy, balloon inserted and inflated to rupture muscle of oesophagus
Risk of perforation which requires emergency surgery
Can have multiple times with increasing dilatation
Endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin
If cannot tolerate any surgery
Complications of achalasia?
- Nocturnal inhalation of material
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Perforation
- GORD
- Oesophageal cancer
Definition of gastritis?
- Gastric mucosal inflammation
Causes of gastritis?
o Alcohol, NSAIDs o H.pylori o GORD, Hiatus Hernia, Atrophic Gastritis o Crohn’s, sarcoidosis o CMV o Zollinger-Ellison
Symptoms and signs of gastritis?
- Epigastric pain
- Nausea & Vomiting
- Loss of Appetite
- Haematemesis
- Bloating
Investigations of gastritis - when to offer upper GI endoscopy?
- Offer urgent access upper GI endoscopy if:
o Dysphagia OR
o >55 with weight loss and:
Upper abdominal pain, reflux or dyspepsia
Investigations of gastritis if no alarm symptoms?
o H.pylori urea breath test o FBC (anaemia)
Management of gastritis - prevention?
o Eat smaller and frequent meals o Avoid spicy, acidic, fried or fatty foods o No alcohol o Stop smoking o Give PPI gastroprotection with NSAIDs
Management of gastritis - general measures?
Reduce alcohol and NSAIDs if possible
Lifestyle measures
OTC antacids
Management of gastritis - if no improvement?
H.pylori Urea breath test or stool antigen test
If negative:
o PPIs/H2 blockers for 4 weeks
o Consider non-urgent endoscopy if no improvement
If positive:
o Eradicate H.pylori as needed
PPI + Amoxicillin + Clarithromycin OR Metronidazole
o H.pylori breath test to test cure
o Consider non-urgent endoscopy if not improving
Complications of gastritis?
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Gastric Carcinoma
- Gastric Lymphoma
Definition of chronic pancreatitis?
- Chronic, irreversible, inflammation and fibrosis of pancreas
- Inappropriate activation of enzymes leads to protein plugs in lumen and calcification
- Ductal hypertension and damage leads to impaired function
Risk factors of chronic pancreatitis?
o Smoking, Sjogren’s, IBD
o Drugs – thiazide diuretics, azathioprine
o Gallstones
Causes of chronic pancreatitis?
o Alcohol (70-80%) o Familial o CF o Haemochromatosis o Pancreatic duct obstruction (stones/tumour) o Hyperparathyroidism o Pancreas divisum
Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis?
o Epigastric pain Deep, severe, dull pain into back Worsened with eating Relieved by sitting up or hot water bottles o Nausea and vomiting o Bloating o Steatorrhoea o Anorexia/Weight loss o Diabetes
Signs of chronic pancreatitis?
o Chronic liver disease
o Epigastric tenderness
o Jaundice
Distention
When to refer in primary care of chronic pancreatitis?
- In primary care, if suspected – refer to gastroenterology or regional pancreatic specialist centre
o Urgent if acute pancreatitis
o Routine if chronic
Perform LFTs, Abdominal USS
Tests performed in chronic pancreatitis in secondary care
o Bloods – LFTs, glucose (raised) o Abdminal USS o CT Pancreatic calcifications confirm diagnosis o MRCP + ERCP o AXR Speckled calcification
Referral of suspected chronic pancreatitis from primary care?
Urgent if acute pancreatitis or complications of chronic (malabsorption, DM, chronic pain, opioid dependency, low-trauma fracture)
Routine – all other suspected people
Investigations if no urgent admission/referral need
Bloods
• LFTs
Abdominal USS
Management of chronic pancreatitis - general advice?
Abstain from alcohol and smoking
Analgesia – NSAIDs, paracetamol, weak opioids
If uncontrolled – ERCP to remove stones, adjuvant drugs or coeliac plexus block
Dietician referral
Low fat diet, avoid legumes and high-fibre foods
Pancreatin enzymes – contain lipase, amylase and protease (Creon)
Fat soluble vitamins
Management of chronic pancreatitis -Surgery?
o Pancreatic duct obstructed – surgery open or minimally invasive
o Pseudocysts drained using EUS-guided drainage
o Pancreatojejunostomy
Management of chronic pancreatitis -follow up?
o Annual – HbA1c, DEXA scan, test for malnutrition or vitamin deficiencies
Complications of chronic pancreatitis?
- Malabsorption
- Pseudocyst
- Diabetes
- Biliary obstruction
- Local arterial aneurysm
- Pancreatic carcinoma
Definition of chronic hepatitis?
o Inflammation of liver for >6 months
Causes of chronic hepatitis?
o Viral – HepB, HepC, CMV, EBV
o Metabolic – NAFLD, haemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, alpha-1-antitrypsin disease
o Toxins – alcoholic liver disease, amiodarone, isoniazid, methyldopa, methotrexate, nitrofurantoin
o Autoimmune – hepatitis, PBC, PSC
o Sarcoidosis
Symptoms of chronic hepatitis?
o Fatigue, anorexia, arthralgia, myalgia, weight loss
o RUQ pain
o Abdominal pain
o Ankle swelling
o Pruritus
o Gynaecomastia, testicular atrophy, loss of libido, amenorrhoea
o Confusion and drowsiness
Signs of chronic hepatitis?
o Spider Naevi o Palmar erythema o Jaundice o Clubbing o Dupuytren’s contracture o Xanthomas o Splenomegaly o Hirsutism
Bloods to performed in chronic hepatitis?
o FBC (anaemia) o Clotting o U&E o LFTs o Albumin o Immunoglobulins o Autoantibodies o Hepatitis B and C serology o Iron o AFP
Imaging to performed in chronic hepatitis?
o US
o CT/MRI
Diagnostic tests to performed in chronic hepatitis?
- Transient elastography
- Liver biopsy
Definition of subphrenic abscess?
- Localised collection of pus, underneath left/right hemidiaphragm
Causes of subphrenic abscess?
o Upper GI – malignancy, trauma, peptic ulcer perforation, endoscopy
o Lower GI – ischaemic bowel, diverticulitis, obstruction, hernia, IBD, appendicitis, trauma
o Biliary Tract/Pancreas – cholecystitis, malignancy, pancreatitis, endocarditis
o GU – PID, malignancy
o Bowel surgery
Epidemiology of subphrenic abscess?
- Commonest cause of intra-abdominal abscess
Symptoms of subphrenic abscess?
o Chest/shoulder tip pain
o Abdominal pain
o Swinging fever
o Diarrhoea, nausea, malaise
Signs of subphrenic abscess?
o Swinging/Spikey temperature
o Systemically unwell patient
o Often few physical signs – subcostal abdominal tenderness
o Leucocytosis
Investigations of subphrenic abscess?
- Bloods o FBC (High WCC) o Cultures - Urgent US – localises collection of pus - Ct detects abscess and estimate volume
Management of subphrenic abscess?
- IV Antibiotics – broad spectrum
- US/CT-guided drainage
- May need percutaneous drainage, laparoscopy or open surgery
Definition of liver abscess?
- Caused by organisms invading liver parenchyma
Epidemiology of liver abscess?
- UK – pyogenic most common
- Worldwide – amoebic most common
Aetiology of pyogenic liver abscess?
o Right lobe predominantly, can be single or multiple
o Secondary to abdominal infections (cholecystitis, cholangitis, stones, malignancy, diverticulitis, IBD, appendicitis, perforate peptic ulcer, iatrogenic, bacterial endocarditis)
o Organisms – Klebsiella pneumoniae, E.coli, Bacteroides, enterococci, staph/strep (endocarditis), Candida (immunocompromised)
Aetiology of amoebic liver abscess?
o Entamoeba histolytica – occurs in tropical/subtropical areas due to poor sanitation and overcrowding
o Faecal-oral transmission
o Invade intestinal mucosa and access portal venous system
o Symptoms – colitis, dysentery and liver abscess
o Right lobe 80%
o Endemic in South America, Indian subcontinent and Africa
Symptoms of liver abscess?
o RUQ pain Referred shoulder tip pain o Fever (swinging) o Night sweats o Nausea and vomiting o Anorexia and weight loss o Cough
Signs of liver abscess?
o Swinging fever
o Tender RUQ
o Hepatomegaly, palpable mass
o Jaundice
Investigations of liver abscess?
Bloods o FBC (High WCC, normo, normo anaemia) o Raised ESR o LFTs (raised ALP, AST/ALT, bilirubin, low albumin) o Blood Cultures
Stool sample – cysts of E.histiolytica
USS
o Aspiration fluid sent for culture and sensitivity
CT definitive
Management of pyogenic liver abscess?
Fluids/PRN analgesics
Antibiotics
Cephalosporin + metronidazole 1st line
US/CT-guided aspiration
Management of amoebic liver abscess?
Antibiotics
Metronidazole 800mg TDS for 5 days (or tinidazole)
Then, Diloxanide Furoate 500mg TDS for 10 days
US/CT-guided aspiration if large or no response to antibiotics after 72 hours
Description of hepatocellular carcinoma?
o Primary hepatocyte neoplasia
o Spread – lung, portal vein, periportal nodes, bone and brain
Description of benign liver tumours?
o Haemangiomas – commonest benign liver tumours, often incidental finding on US or CT and don’t require treatment
o Adenomas – common, caused: anabolic steroids, OCP, pregnancy. Treat if symptomatic or >5cm
Epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma?
- 90% of all primary liver tumours
- Common in China and Africa
- Men more common
- 90% of liver tumours are secondary metastatic tumours
Types of malignant primary liver tumours?
HCC Cholangiocarcinoma Angiosarcoma Hepatoblastoma Hepatic GIST
Types of benign primary liver tumours?
Cysts Haemangioma Adenoma Focal nodular hyperplasia Fibroma
Origins of secondary liver tumours in liver?
o Men – Stomach, lung, colon
o Women – breast, stomach, colon, uterus
o Either Sex – Pancreas, leukaemia, lymphoma, carcinoid tumours
Causes of hepatocellular carcinoma?
o Hepatitis B o Hepatitis C o Autoimmune hepatitis o Cirrhosis (alcohol, haemachromatosis, PBC) o NAFLD o Anabolic stenosis o Aflatoxins o DM and smoking
Symptoms of hepatocellular carcinoma?
o Fatigue o Anorexia o RUQ pain o Weight loss o Pruritus o Abdominal distention
Signs of hepatocellular carcinoma?
o Hepatomegaly o Jaundice (late) o Ascites o Bruit over liver o Spider Naevi o Anaemia
Investigations of hepatocellular carcinoma - referral?
o Urgent direct access US (within 2 weeks) if upper abdominal mass consistent with enlarged liver
Investigations of hepatocellular carcinoma - secondary care?
o USS
o AFP
o CT
o Fine-needle aspiration or biopsy