GastroIntestinal/Nutritional Flashcards
Biliary Colic,
Acute Cholecystitis,
Acute Cholecystitis, Acute Cholangitis,
Acute Hepatitis,
Causes of RUQ abdominal pain
Splenomegaly, Splenic infarct,
Splenic abscess,
splenic rupture
Causes of LUQ abdominal pain
Acute myocardial infarction, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, peptic ulcer disease, GERD
Causes of epigastric abdominal pain
Appendicitis, diverticulitis, nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis, cystitis,
Causes of lower abdominal pain
Patient will present as → a 49-year-old female with a 2-day history of right-upper-quadrant, colicky abdominal pain, as well as nausea and vomiting. Examination shows significant pain with palpation in the right upper quadrant. Laboratory findings include an elevated WBC count, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin level.
Acute/Chronic Cholecystitis
What is the most specific test for acute cholecystitis?
HIDA
PE findings include: RUQ pain, guarding, and +Murphy’s sign
Cholecystitis
Precipitated by fatty meals. Class pt = Fertile+ Fat+ Forty
Cholecystitis
Ultrasound = 1st line imagine procedure
Radionuclide scanning (HIDA) = Gold Standard
DX for cholecystitis
What is the procedure of choice for uncomplicated acute and chronic cholecystitis?
Lap Chole
What are the complications of acute cholecystitis?
Abscess perforation, choledocholithiasis, cholecystenteric fistula formation, gallstone ileus,
Labs usually associated with acute cholecystitis?
Increase WBC. May have slight elevation in alk phos, LFTs, amylase
Burning pain or discomfort in the upper chest and midchest, possibly involving the neck and throat, usually occurs after eating or at night and may worsen when lying down
heartburn and dyspepsia
Standard workup for this prior to surgical procedure includes:
Endoscopy with biopsy (gold standard)
Manometry
24 hour ambulatory pH probe testing
barium esophagography
Heartburn and dyspepsia
lifestyle modifications and acid suppression therapy is standard treatment for the classic presentation
Heartburn and dyspepsia
histamine H2 receptor antagonist -> PPI for mild or intermittent sx
tx for heartburn and dyspepsia
Triple therapy PPI+ clarithromycin + amoxicillin +/- metronidazole
tx for H. pylori infection
fundoplication if failed medical management or complications
surgical tx for heartburn/ dyspepsia
Patient will present as → a 37-year-old male complaining of rapid onset of severe mid-epigastric pain with radiation to the back after eating a large meal. The pain lessens when the patient leans forward or lies in the fetal position. Physical exam shows a low-grade fever, epigastric tenderness, diminished bowel sounds, and bruising of the flanks.
Acute/chronic pancreatitis
superficial edema and bruising in the subcutaneous fatty tissue around the umbilicus
Cullen’s sign
bruising of the flanks, the part of the body between the last rib and the top of the hip
Grey Turner’s sign
The classic triad = pancreatic calcification, steatorrhea, and diabetes mellitus
Chronic pancreatitis
Abdominal CT is the diagnostic test of choice
Sentinel loops on X-Ray
(look for diminished bowel sounds as part of the exam question)
ERCP is the most sensitive
Dx for acute and chronic pancreatits
circumscribed collection of fluid rich in pancreatic enzymes, blood, and necrotic tissue)
pancreatic pseudocyst (complication of acute pancreatitis)
Prochlorperazine 5 to 10 mg IV or
Droperidol 0.625 mg IV
rescue antiemetics for PONV
If the patient is hungry and can eat, you should seriously question the diagnosis of what surgical condition?
appendicitis
patients with acute hematemesis is indicative of what?
Upper GI bleed
Symptoms that suggest the bleeding is severe include orthostatic dizziness, confusion, angina, severe palpitations, and cold/clammy extremities.
hematemesis
IV access or transfusion for pts that remain hemodynamically unstable
tx for hematemesis
Patient will present as → a 14-year-old boy with nausea, vomiting, constipation, and periumbilical pain that has settled in the lower right quadrant. The patient’s mom gave him a piece of toast and some water about 5 hours ago but he vomited 30 minutes after eating. On physical exam, he has tenderness and guarding in the lower right quadrant, pain upon flexion and internal rotation of right lower extremity, RLQ pain with right hip extension, and RLQ pain with palpation of the LLQ. Blood tests reveal leukocytosis with a shift to the left.
Appendicitis
1st sx is crampy or “colicky” pain around the navel. Usually a marked reduction in or total absence of appetite
appendicitis
Patient will present as → a 65-year-old female with diffuse abdominal pain and vomiting. She has not had a bowel movement in three days. PE reveals high-pitched, hyperactive bowel sounds, tympany to percussion, no rebound tenderness, and a temperature of 100.4 F. Abdominal radiograph reveals distended loops of bowel with a step ladder pattern of differential air-fluid levels.
Small bowel obstruction
Intussusception is the most common cause of this in children.
Smal bowel obstruction
decompression with a NGT. Surg if mechanic obstruction is suspected
small bowel obstruction
Where is the most common location of a large bowel obstruction?
Sigmoid colon
What finding on abdominal x-ray should make you think of bowel obstruction?
Air fluid levels
Patient will present as → a young mother who brings her 12-month-old daughter to your office reporting that she has had recurrent “belly aches” for the past two weeks. The child experiences sudden, colicky abdominal pain that recurs every 15 to 20 min, often with vomiting. These episodes are interspersed with periods of no complaints. The mother also reports that she has seen her squatting with her knees to her chest, which seems to relieve her of her symptoms. She describes her stool as bloody with mucus, almost as though it were a currant jelly. On physical examination, you note abdominal distention and tenderness along with a sausage-shaped abdominal mass in the RUQ.
Intussuception
what type of stool is pathognomonic for intussusception?
currant jelly stool
An abdominal x-ray will reveal a “Crescent sign” or a “Bull’s eye/target sign/coiled spring lesion” representing layers of the intestine within the abdomen.
Intussusception
Ultrasound shows “target sign”
Intussusception
Air or barium enema may be curative for children; if not, surgery is needed.
Adults generally require surgery
tx for Intussusception
What is the gold standard for confirming the dx of intussusception in children?
Barium enema (both diagnostic and therapeutic)
what is the diagnostic test of choice for esophageal webs?
barium swallow
esophageal webs + dysphagia + iron deficiency anemia
Plummer-Vinson syndrome
Patient will present as → a 62-year-old man with a history of alcoholism complains of difficulty swallowing solids that has progressed to difficulty swallowing liquids. He has smoked 1-2 packs of cigarettes per day for the past 38 years. In addition he reports occasional bouts of hematemesis and hoarseness, along with progressive weight loss and weakness.
esophageal cancer
smoking and alcohol consumption is associated with which kind of esophageal cancer?
Squamous cell CA (most common world wide)
Barrett’s esophagus is associated with which kind of esophageal cancer?
Adenocarcinoma (most common in the US)
What is the dx test of choice for esophageal cancers?
Upper endoscopy with biopsy. (CT scans for staging)
tx for esophageal cancer?
esophageal resection. (endoscopic screening recommended for pts with Barrett’s Q3-5 years)
Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus most likely occurs in which part of the esophagus?
Lower third
Patient will present as → a 43-year-old woman who comes to the emergency department with a 12-hour history of right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain. The pain is severe now but waxes and wanes and is associated with nausea and some episodes of vomiting. The pain sometimes radiates through to the back. She feels warm but has not checked her temperature. There is no diarrhea. Her last bowel movement was 1 day ago and was normal. The patient has no similar history in the past. On examination, the patient is an obese young woman in some discomfort. Her vital signs reveal a temperature of 100 ° F and pulse of 102 beats/ minute. Her blood pressure is 130/70 mmHg, and her respirations are 18 breaths/minute. There is no scleral icterus. The chest is clear, and the cardiovascular examination is normal. Abdominal examination reveals marked upper abdominal tenderness with guarding, especially in the RUQ. On palpation of the RUQ of the abdomen when the patient is asked to take a deep breath, there is a marked increase in pain. The bowel sounds are present but seem slightly sluggish. The patient has no drug allergies and is not taking any medications at present.
Cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis