Gen Surg Flashcards
DDx of generalised abdo pain
- peritonitis
- ruptured AAA
- intestinal obstruction
- ischaemic colitis
DDx RUQ pain
- Biliary colic
- Acute cholecystitis
- Acute cholangitis
DDx epigastric pain
- Acute gastritis
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Pancreatitis
- Ruptured AAA
Ddx central abdominal pain
- Ruptured AAA
- Intestinal obstruction
- Ischaemic colitis
- Early stages of appendicitis
DDx LIF pain
- ectopic pregnancy
- diverticulitis
- Ruptured ovarian cyst
- Ovarian torsion
DDx RIF pain
- Acute appendicitis
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Ruptured ovarian cyst
- Ovarian torsion
- Meckel’s diverticulitis
DDx suprapubic pain
- urinary retention
- lower UTI
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Prostatitis
DDx loin to groin pain
- Renal colic (kidney stones)
- Ruptured AAA
- Pyelonephritis
DDx testicular pain
- testicular torsion
- epididymo-orchitis
what is peritonitis
inflammation of the peritoneum, the lining of the abdomen
signs of peritonitis
- guarding
- rigidity
- rebound tenderness
- coughing test
- percussion tenderness
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- associated with spontaneous infection of ascites in patients with liver disease
- Mx: broad-spectrum antibiotics
- poor prognosis
signs and sx of appendicitis
- central abdo and RIF pain
- tenderness at McBurney’s point (1/3 ASIS to umbilicus)
- loss of appetite
- N&V
- low grade fever
- Rovsing’s sign
- guarding, rebound and percussion tenderness
Ix for appendicitis
- inflammatory markers
- USS
what is Meckel’s diverticulum
- malformation of the distal ileum that occurs in around 2% of the population
- usually asymptomatic and does not require mx
- it can bleed, rupture or cause a volvulus or intussusception
what is mesenteric adenitis
- inflamed abdominal lymph nodes
- associated with tonsillitis or an upper RTI
- caused by viral or bacterial infections, such as streptococcal pharyngitis
- No specific mx is required
presentation of mesenteric adenitis
- Crampy abdominal pain
- poor appetite
- sore throat
- fever
- cervical lymphadenopathy
- tenderness in the RIF
- usually in younger children
is SBO or LBO more common
small bowel obstruction
causes of bowel obstruction
Big 3 (90%)
1. adhesions (SB)
2. hernias (SB)
3. malignancy (LB)
Others
- volvulus (LB)
- diverticular disease
- strictures
- intusussusception
main causes of intestinal adhesions
- Abdominal or pelvic surgery (particularly open)
- Peritonitis
- Abdominal or pelvic infections (e.g., PID)
- Endometriosis
what is closed loop bowel obstruction
- two points of obstruction along the bowel
- expands, ischaemia, perforation
- emergency surgery
presentation of bowel obstruction
- vomiting (green bilious)
- abdominal distension
- diffuse abdo pain
- constipation and lack of flatulence
- tinkling bowel sounds
- AXR: 3:6:9 SB:colon:caecum
what are valvulae conniventes
- in small bowel
- mucosal folds that form lines extending the full width of the bowel
- AXR: line across entire width
what are haustra
- in large bowel
- pouches formed by the muscles in the walls
- lines do not extend full width
Mx of bowel obstruction
- drip and suck. NBM, IV fluids and NG tube with drain
- exploratory surgery
- stents can be used
what is an ileus
- in small bowel
- normal peristalsis stops
causes of ileus
- injury to bowel
- handling during surgery
- inflam/infection
- electrolyte imbalance
sx of ileus
similar to bowel obstruction
- Vomiting (green bilious)
- Abdominal distention and pain
- constipation and no flatulence
- Absent bowel sounds (as opposed to “tinkling” in obstruction)
Ix for post operative ileus
Deranged electrolytes can contribute to the development: check potassium, magnesium and phosphate
Mx of ileus
- treat cause
- supportive
- NBM, IV fluids
- NG if vomiting, TPN
- mobilise
what is a volvulus
- bowel twists around itself and the mesentery that it is attached to
- close loop BO –>necrosis and perforation
types of volvulus
- caecal
- sigmoid
sigmoid volvulus features
- more common
- affects sigmoid colon
- chronic constipation
- assoc with high fibre diet and laxatives
caecal volvulus features
- less common
- younger patients
RF for volvulus
- Neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s)
- Nursing home residents
- Chronic constipation
- High fibre diet
- Pregnancy
- Adhesions
Presentation of volvulus
similar to BO
- Vomiting (green bilious)
- Abdominal distention
- Diffuse abdominal pain
- Absolute constipation and lack of flatulence
Mx of volvulus
- conservative: endoscopic decompression
- flexible sigmoidoscope
- laparotomy
- Hartmann’s procedure
- ileocaecal resection or right hemicolectomy for caecal
Complications of hernias
- incarceration (cannot be reduced, leads to O&S)
- obstruction (blockage of faeces)
- strangulation (non-reducible and blood supply gone)
Richter’s hernia
- only part of the bowel wall and lumen herniate through the defect, with the other side of that section of the bowel remaining within the peritoneal cavity
- strangulate and necrose quickly
Maydl’s Hernia
two different loops of bowel are contained within the hernia.
Mx of hernias
- conservative
- tension free repair (mesh)
- tension repair (suture)
Inguinal hernias
- direct (weakness in the abdominal wall at Hesselbach’s triangle. Not reducible)
- indirect (bowel herniates through the inguinal canal. Reducible with pressure)
- superior and medial to pubic tubercle
< 6 weeks old = correct within 2 days
< 6 months = correct within 2 weeks
< 6 years = correct within 2 months
Femoral hernias
- herniation of the abdominal contents through the femoral canal
- below inguinal ligament
- femoral ring is narrow so high risk of strangulation
- inferior and lateral to the pubic tubercle
- surgery within 2 weeks
incisional hernias
- at site of previous surgery
- difficult to repair
umbilical hernias
- defect in the muscle around the umbilicus
- common in neonates
- resolve spontaneously by 3y/o