General Flashcards
Features of peptic ulcer disease?
Duodenal ulcers: more common than gastric ulcers, epigastric pain relieved by eating
Gastric ulcers: epigastric pain worsened by eating
Features of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage may be seen (haematemesis, melena etc)
Features of appendicitis?
Pain initial in the central abdomen before localising to the right iliac fossa
Anorexia is common
Tachycardia, low-grade pyrexia, tenderness in RIF
Rovsing’s sign: more pain in RIF than LIF when palpating LIF
Features of pancreatitis?
Usually due to alcohol or gallstones
Severe epigastric pain
Vomiting is common
Examination may reveal tenderness, ileus and low-grade fever
Periumbilical discolouration (Cullen’s sign) and flank discolouration (Grey-Turner’s sign) is described but rare
Features of biliary colic?
Pain in the RUQ radiating to the back and interscapular region, may be following a fatty meal.
Obstructive jaundice may cause pale stools and dark urine
Features of acute cholecystitis?
Continuous RUQ pain
Fever, raised inflammatory markers and white cells
Murphy’s sign positive (arrest of inspiration on palpation of the RUQ)
Features of diverticulitis?
Colicky pain typically in the LLQ
Fever, raised inflammatory markers and white cells
What is the pathophysiology behind achalasia?
Failure of oesophageal peristalsis and of relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS)
Degenerative loss to Auerbach plexus
LOS remains contracted - oesophagus dilated
Features of achalasia?
dysphagia of BOTH liquids and solids
typically variation in severity of symptoms
heartburn
regurgitation of food
may lead to cough, aspiration pneumonia etc
malignant change in small number of patients
Investigations of achalasia?
oesophageal manometry - most important diagnostic test
Barium swallow - bird beak
CXR - widened mediastinum - fluid level
Treatment of achalasia?
Pneumatic balloon dilation - first line option
Heller cardiomyotomy should be considered if recurrent or persistent symptoms
Drug therapy has a limited role ( calcium channel blockers - nitrates)
Pathogenesis of appendicitis?
lymphoid hyperplasia or a faecolith → obstruction of appendiceal lumen → gut organisms invading the appendix wall → oedema, ischaemia +/- perforation
Why does pain change in appendicitis?
Peri-umbilcial pain: visceral stretching of appendix lumen and appendix is midgut structure
RIF pain: Localised parietal peritoneal inflammation.
What is the strongest indicator for appendicitis?
Lateralisation of pain
Causes of acute liver failure?
paracetamol overdose
alcohol
viral hepatitis (usually A or B)
acute fatty liver of pregnancy
Features of acute liver failure?
jaundice
coagulopathy: raised prothrombin time
hypoalbuminaemia
hepatic encephalopathy
renal failure is common (‘hepatorenal syndrome’)
What is the pathophysiology of pancreatitis?
autodigestion of pancreatic tissue by the pancreatic enzymes, leading to necrosis
Features of acute pancreatitis?
severe epigastric pain that may radiate through to the back
vomiting is common
examination may reveal epigastric tenderness, ileus and low-grade fever
periumbilical discolouration (Cullen’s sign) and flank discolouration (Grey-Turner’s sign) is described but rare
What is a rare ophthalmic complication of pancreatitis?
ischaemic (Purtscher) retinopathy - may cause temporary or permanent blindness
Causes of amylase rise?
Pancreatic pseudocyst
Mesenteric infarct
Perforated viscus
Acute cholecystitis
Diabetic ketoacidosis
For pancreatitis prognosis what tests need to be scored?
age > 55 years
hypocalcaemia
hyperglycaemia
hypoxia
neutrophilia
elevated LDH and AST
** amylase level is not prognostic
Cause of pancreatitis?
GET SMASHED
Gallstones
Ethanol
Trauma
Steroids
Mumps (other viruses include Coxsackie B)
Autoimmune (e.g. polyarteritis nodosa), Ascaris infection
Scorpion venom
Hypertriglyceridaemia, Hyperchylomicronaemia, Hypercalcaemia, Hypothermia
ERCP
Drugs (azathioprine, mesalazine*, didanosine, bendroflumethiazide, furosemide, pentamidine, steroids, sodium valproate)
Complications of pancreatitis?
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Pseudocyst
Pancreatitic necrosis
Pancreatic abscess
Haemorrhage
Peripancreatic fluid collection
Management of peripancreatic fluid collections?
Best leave alone - most resolve. Do not want to introduce infection
Features of pancreatic pseudocyst?
collection is walled by fibrous or granulation tissue and typically occurs 4 weeks or more after an attack of acute pancreatitis
Symptomatic cases may be observed for 12 weeks as up to 50% resolve
Treatment is either with endoscopic or surgical cystogastrostomy or aspiration
Features of acute upper GI bleed?
Haematemasis
Melena
Raised urea
Diagnosis associated with GI bleed:
- Varices
- Peptic ulcer disease
Characterise bleeding from oesophageal varices?
Large volume fresh blood
Likely to rebleed
Associated haemodynamic collapse
Characterise bleeding from oesphagitis?
Small volume of fresh blood, often streaking vomit. Malena rare. Often ceases spontaneously. Usually history of antecedent GORD type symptoms.
Characterise bleeding from mallory Weiss tear?
Typically brisk small to moderate volume of bright red blood following a bout of repeated vomiting. Malena rare. Usually ceases spontaneously.
How should a UGI bleed be scored?
the Glasgow-Blatchford score at first assessment
helps clinicians decide whether patient patients can be managed as outpatients or not
the Rockall score is used after endoscopy
provides a percentage risk of rebleeding and mortality
includes age, features of shock, co-morbidities, aetiology of bleeding and endoscopic stigmata of recent haemorrhage
In major haemorrhage what parameters for FFP and platelets?
If platelets < 50 - transfuse platelets
If fibrinogen < 1 - transfuse FFP
If INR > 1.5 normal - transfuse FFP
Prothrombin complex issue to those on warfarin
Management to non-variceal bleeds?
Give PPI after endoscopy
Management of vatical bleeding?
terlipressin and prophylactic antibiotics should be given to patients at presentation (i.e. before endoscopy)
Surgical options:
band ligation should be used for oesophageal varices and injections of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate for patients with gastric varices
transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) should be offered if bleeding from varices is not controlled with the above measures
What is alcoholic ketoacidosis?
Mechanism?
non-diabetic euglycaemic form of ketoacidosis. It occurs in people who regularly drink large amounts of alcohol
Once the person becomes malnourished, after an alcohol binge the body can start to break down body fat, producing ketones
Features of alcoholic ketoacidosis?
Metabolic acidosis
Elevated anion gap
Elevated serum ketone levels
Normal or low glucose concentration
Treatment of alcoholic ketoacidosis?
infusion of saline & thiamine. Thiamine is required to avoid Wernicke encephalopathy or Korsakoff psychosis.
Features of alcoholic related liver disease?
gamma-GT is characteristically elevated
the ratio of AST:ALT is normally > 2, a ratio of > 3 is strongly suggestive of acute alcoholic hepatitis
Management of alcoholic hepatitis?
- Glucocorticoids
- Maddrey’s discriminant function (DF) is often used during acute episodes to determine who would benefit from glucocorticoid therapy - Pentoxyphylline
Mechanism of 5-ASA?
Endogenous production of enterocytes, produce 5-ASA to reduce inflammation
Unclear mechanism
Side effects of sulphasalazine?
rashes, oligospermia, headache, Heinz body anaemia, megaloblastic anaemia, lung fibrosis
see other side effects with mesalazine
Side effects of mesalazine?
GI upset, headache, agranulocytosis, pancreatitis*, interstitial nephritis
Pancreatitis 7 time more likely than sulphasalazine
Risk factors for anal cancer?
HPV infection - strongest risk factor
Men sex with men
HIV
High number of sexual partners
Women with a history of cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) are also at greater risk of anal cancer.
Immunosuppressive drugs used in transplant recipients increase the risk of anal cancer.
Smoking is also a risk factor.
Features of anal cancer?
Perianal pain, perianal bleeding
A palpable lesion
Faecal incontinence
A neglected tumour in a female may present with a rectovaginal fistula.
Staging for anal cancer?
TX primary tumour cannot be assessed
T0 no evidence of primary tumour
Tis carcinoma in situ
T1 tumour 2 cm or less in greatest dimension
T2 tumour more than 2 cm but not more than 5 cm in greatest dimension
T3 tumour more than 5 cm in greatest dimension
T4 tumour of any size that invades adjacent organ(s) - for example, vagina, urethra, bladder (direct invasion of the rectal wall, perirectal skin, subcutaneous tissue, or the sphincter muscle(s) - is not classified as T4)
Definition of anal fissure ?
Anal fissures are longitudinal or elliptical tears of the squamous lining of the distal anal canal. If present for less than 6 weeks they are defined as acute, and chronic if present for more than 6 weeks.
Risk factors for anal fissure?
constipation
inflammatory bowel disease
sexually transmitted infections e.g. HIV, syphilis, herpes
Features of anal fissure?
painful, bright red, rectal bleeding
around 90% of anal fissures occur on the posterior midline.
Management of anal fissure?
If < 1 week:
soften stool
dietary advice: high-fibre diet with high fluid intake
bulk-forming laxatives are first-line - if not tolerated then lactulose should be tried
lubricants such as petroleum jelly may be tried before defecation
topical anaesthetics
analgesia
Management of chronic anal fissure?
topical glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) is first-line treatment for a chronic anal fissure
If not closed within 8 weeks - for referral for sphincterotomy
Investigation of angiodysplasia?
colonoscopy
mesenteric angiography if acutely bleeding
Mnx of angiodysplasia?
endoscopic cautery or argon plasma coagulation
antifibrinolytics e.g. Tranexamic acid
Features of ascending cholangitis?
Triad:
- Fever
- Jaundice
- RUQ pain
What is Charcot’s pentad?
fever is the most common feature, seen in 90% of patients
RUQ pain 70%
jaundice 60%
hypotension and confusion are also common (the additional 2 factors in addition to the 3 above make Reynolds’ pentad)
Cause of ascending cholangitis?
Ascending cholangitis is a bacterial infection (typically E. coli) of the biliary tree. The most common predisposing factor is gallstones.
Best investigation for ascneindg cholangitis ?
Ultrasound for ? obstruction
How should ascites be classified?
serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) <11 g/L or a gradient >11g/L
Causes of ascites > 11 g/l ?
Liver disorders are the most common cause
cirrhosis/alcoholic liver disease
acute liver failure
liver metastases
Cardiac
right heart failure
constrictive pericarditis
Other causes
Budd-Chiari syndrome
portal vein thrombosis
veno-occlusive disease
myxoedema
Causes of ascites <11 g/l?
Hypoalbuminaemia
nephrotic syndrome
severe malnutrition (e.g. Kwashiorkor)
Malignancy
peritoneal carcinomatosis
Infections
tuberculous peritonitis
Other causes
pancreatitisis
bowel obstruction
biliary ascites
postoperative lymphatic leak
serositis in connective tissue diseases
Management of ascites?
Reduce dietary sodium
Spironolactone
Abdominal paracentesis
Prophylactic antibiotic - if qualify
Who would get prophylactic antibiotics with ascites?
Protein levle < 15 g/l
Immunology of type 1 autoimmune hepatitis?
Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and/or anti-smooth muscle antibodies (SMA)
Affects both adults and children
Immunology of type 2 autoimmune hepatitis?
Anti-liver/kidney microsomal type 1 antibodies (LKM1)
Affects children only
Immunology of type 3 autoimmune hepatitis?
Soluble liver-kidney antigen
Affects adults in middle-age
HLA type association in autoimmune hepatitis?
HLA B8, DR3.
Features of autoimmune hepatitis?
may present with signs of chronic liver disease
acute hepatitis: fever, jaundice etc (only 25% present in this way)
amenorrhoea (common)
ANA/SMA/LKM1 antibodies, raised IgG levels
liver biopsy: inflammation extending beyond limiting plate ‘piecemeal necrosis’, bridging necrosis
Management of autoimmune hepatitis?
Steroids
Liver transplant
What is the pathology in barret’s oesophagus?
metaplasia of the lower oesophageal mucosa
ncreased risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma, estimated at 50-100 fold in cancer
How should barret’s oesophagus be divided?
< 3 cm
> 3 cm
Risk factors of Barrett’s oesophagus?
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is the single strongest risk factor
male gender (7:1 ratio)
smoking
central obesity
Management of Barrett’s oesophagus?
High dose PPI
Endoscopic surveillance every 3-5 years
Management of Barrett’s oesophagus when dysplasia is demonstrated?
radiofrequency ablation: preferred first-line treatment, particularly for low-grade dysplasia
endoscopic mucosal resection
How can bile acid malabsorption cause chronic diarrhoea?
- Excessive bile acid production
- Reduced bile acid absorption from Gi tract
What vitamin deficiencies can bile acid malabsorption lead to?
A D E K
Secondary causes of bile acid malabsorption?
cholecystectomy
coeliac disease
small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Investigations for bile acid malabsorption?
SeHCAT ( Sea cat) test
- nuclear medicine test
Management of bile acid malabsorption?
bile acid sequestrants e.g. cholestyramine
What is Budd-chiari syndrome ?
Budd-Chiari syndrome, or hepatic vein thrombosis, is usually seen in the context of underlying haematological disease or another procoagulant condition.
Causes of Budd-chiari syndrome?
polycythaemia rubra vera
thrombophilia: activated protein C resistance, antithrombin III deficiency, protein C & S deficiencies
pregnancy
combined oral contraceptive pill: accounts for around 20% of cases
Features of Budd-chiair syndrome?
abdominal pain: sudden onset, severe
ascites → abdominal distension
tender hepatomegaly
Best investigations for Budd Chiari?
ultrasound with Doppler flow studies is very sensitive and should be the initial radiological investigation
What are the features of carcinoid syndrome?
flushing (often the earliest symptom)
diarrhoea
bronchospasm
hypotension
right heart valvular stenosis (left heart can be affected in bronchial carcinoid)
other molecules such as ACTH and GHRH may also be secreted resulting in, for example, Cushing’s syndrome
pellagra can rarely develop as dietary tryptophan is diverted to serotonin by the tumour
Investigations for carcinoid syndrome?
urinary 5-HIAA
plasma chromogranin A y
Management of carcinoid syndrome?
Management
somatostatin analogues e.g. octreotide
diarrhoea: cyproheptadine may help
What is carcinoid syndrome?
when metastases are present in the liver and release serotonin into the systemic circulation
may also occur with lung carcinoid as mediators are not ‘cleared’ by the liver
Features of cholangiocarcinoma?
Bile duct cancer
- persistent biliary colic symptoms
- associated with anorexia, jaundice and weight loss
- a palpable mass in the right upper quadrant (Courvoisier sign)
- periumbilical lymphadenopathy (Sister Mary Joseph nodes) and left supraclavicular adenopathy (Virchow node) may be seen
- raised CA 19-9 levels
often used for detecting cholangiocarcinoma in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis
What eponymous signs are seen in cholangiocarcinoma?
Sister Mary Joesph nodule - peeiumbilical lymphadenopathy
Courvioiser sign
Mechanism of cholestyramine and its use?
Hyperlipidaemia
Crohn’s disease for treatment diarrhoea following bowel resection.
It decreases bile acid reabsorption in the small intestine, therefore upregulating the amount of cholesterol that is converted to bile acid
Adverse effects of cholestyramine?
abdominal cramps and constipation
decreases absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
cholesterol gallstones
may raise level of triglycerides
Causes of chronic pancreatitis?
genetic: cystic fibrosis, haemochromatosis
ductal obstruction: tumours, stones, structural abnormalities including pancreas divisum and annular pancreas
Investigation findings for chronic pancreatitis?
AXR: Calcifications
CT is better at detecting calcifications
What is the gram stain of C -diff?
Gram positive rod
Risk factors for C-difficle?
PPI
Cephalosporins
Clindamycin
What are the features of C- diff?
Pseudomembraneous colitis
diarrhoea
abdominal pain
a raised white blood cell count (WCC) is characteristic
if severe toxic megacolon may develop
What is the management of clostridium difficult?
first-line therapy is oral vancomycin for 10 days
second-line therapy: oral fidaxomicin
third-line therapy: oral vancomycin +/- IV metronidazole
Treatment of life threatening C diff infection?
oral vancomycin AND IV metronidazole
specialist advice - surgery may be considered
What monoclonal can be used in C diff? How does it work?
- bezlotoxumab is a monoclonal antibody which targets C. difficile toxin B
- Faecal transplant
What factor levels are high in coagulopathy of liver disease?
Factor VIII remains supra-normal
As it is secreted by endothelial cells throughout the body
Normally would be removed by the liver - but as it is not working –> High levels factor VIII
Means: Despite Pt and APTT being raised. MAY STILL BE VERY COAGULABLE
ALSO: reduced synthesis of the purely hepatic derived natural anticoagulants protein c and protein s (vitamin k dependent), and anti-thrombin (non-vitamin k dependent).
What HLA type is associated with coeliac disease?
HLA DQ2
HLA DQ8
Signs and symptoms of coeliac disease ?
Chronic or intermittent diarrhoea
Failure to thrive or faltering growth (in children)
Persistent or unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea and vomiting
Prolonged fatigue (‘tired all the time’)
Recurrent abdominal pain, cramping or distension
Sudden or unexpected weight loss
Unexplained iron-deficiency anaemia, or other unspecified anaemia
Complications from coeliac disease?
anaemia: iron, folate and vitamin B12 deficiency (folate deficiency is more common than vitamin B12 deficiency in coeliac disease)
hyposplenism
osteoporosis, osteomalacia
lactose intolerance
enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma of small intestine
subfertility, unfavourable pregnancy outcomes
rare: oesophageal cancer, other malignancies
What condition should be screened for in coeliac disease?
Autoimmune thyroid disease
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Irritable bowel syndrome
Type 1 diabetes
First-degree relatives (parents, siblings or children) with coeliac disease
Serology for coeliac disease?
tissue transglutaminase (TTG) antibodies (IgA) are first-choice according to NICE
endomyseal antibody (IgA)
needed to look for selective IgA deficiency, which would give a false negative coeliac result
anti-gliadin antibody (IgA or IgG) tests are not recommended by NICE
anti-casein antibodies are also found in some patients
Goldstandard investigation for coeliac disease?
Endoscopic interstinal biopsy
findings supportive of coeliac disease:
villous atrophy
crypt hyperplasia
increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes
lamina propria infiltration with lymphocytes
Management of coeliac disease?
- Avoid gluten
- Vaccination - due to functional asplenism - offered pneumococcal vaccine
Gluten-containing cereals include:
wheat: bread, pasta, pastry
barley: beer
whisky is made using malted barley. Proteins such as gluten are however removed during the distillation process making it safe to drink for patients with coeliac disease
rye
oats
some patients with coeliac disease appear able to tolerate oats
Genetics of Lynch syndrome (HNPCC) ?
Autosomal dominant
Cancers develop in proximal colon
Mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes
Most common genes:
- MSH2
- MLH1
Also at risk of endometrial cancer
Genetics of sporadic colon cancer?
more than half of colon cancers show allelic loss of the APC gene
Action of Kras
Deletion of p53 and DCC - lead to invasive disease
Types of colon cancer?
- sporadic
- FAP ( familial adenomatosis polyposis)
- HNPCC (Lynch syndrome)
What is the Amsterdam criteria?
Used to help diagnose HNPCC
The Amsterdam criteria are sometimes used to aid diagnosis:
at least 3 family members with colon cancer
the cases span at least two generations
at least one case diagnosed before the age of 50 years
What is FAP ?
FAP is a rare autosomal dominant condition which leads to the formation of hundreds of polyps by the age of 30-40 years.
Inevitably get cancer
What is the mutation in FAP?
Chromosome 5 in APC
What is Gardner’s syndrome?
osteomas of the skull and mandible, retinal pigmentation, thyroid carcinoma and epidermoid cysts on the skin
Features of Crohn’s disease
Weight loss
diarrhoea: the most prominent symptom in adults. Crohn’s colitis may cause bloody diarrhoea
abdominal pain: the most prominent symptom in children
perianal disease: e.g. Skin tags or ulcers
extra-intestinal features are more common in patients with colitis or perianal disease
Extra-intestinal features of IBD?
Unrelated to disease activity:
Arthritis: polyarticular, symmetric
Uveitis
Pyoderma gangrenosum
Clubbing
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Related to disease activity:
Arthritis: pauciarticular, asymmetric
Erythema nodosum
Episcleritis
Osteoporosis
Histology on Crohn’s disease?
inflammation in all layers from mucosa to serosa
goblet cells
granulomas
Features in crohn’s disease seen on small bowel enema?
high sensitivity and specificity for examination of the terminal ileum
strictures: ‘Kantor’s string sign’
proximal bowel dilation
‘rose thorn’ ulcers
fistulae
Crohn’s disease management to induce remission?
Stop smoking
1. Glucocorticoids
2. 5-ASA drugs - may be used as adjunct, never mono therapy
3. Infliximab - in refractory / fistulating disease
How should patients be kept in remission in crohn’s?
Azathioprine or mecaptopurine
Methotrexate is an alternative to azathioprine
May require continued infliximab
Best imaging modality for perianal fistulae?
MRI
Treatment of perianal fistulae?
Give metronidazole
Anti-TNF inhibitors - infliximab - may be useful to close
What is the function of a Seaton in perianal fissures?
seton is a piece of surgical thread that’s left in the fistula for several weeks to keep it open. This is useful because persisting fistula tracks after premature skin closure predispose to abscess formation
What should be tested before starting azathioprine, metcaptopurine or methotrexate?
assess thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity before offering azathioprine or mercaptopurine
Deficiency of TPMT results in significant myelosupression
Most common cause for diarrhoea in children?
Rotavirus
Cause of chronic diarrhoea in children?
most common cause in the developed world is cows’ milk intolerance
toddler diarrhoea: stools vary in consistency, often contain undigested food
coeliac disease
post-gastroenteritis lactose intolerance
Risk factors for diverticulosis?
Increased age
Low fibre diet
Features of diverticulitis?
left iliac fossa pain and tenderness
anorexia, nausea and vomiting
diarrhoea
features of infection (pyrexia, raised WBC and CRP)
Complications of diverticulitis?
abscess formation
peritonitis
obstruction
perforation
Drugs that cause hepatocellular driven liver picture?
paracetamol
sodium valproate, phenytoin
MAOIs
halothane
anti-tuberculosis: isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide
statins
alcohol
amiodarone
methyldopa
nitrofurantoin
Drugs that cause cholestatic liver picture?
combined oral contraceptive pill
antibiotics: flucloxacillin, co-amoxiclav, erythromycin*
anabolic steroids, testosterones
phenothiazines: chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine
sulphonylureas
fibrates
rare reported causes: nifedipine
Drugs that cause liver cirrhosis?
methotrexate
methyldopa
amiodarone
Drugs that cause reflux?
NSAIDs
bisphosphonates
steroids
Drugs that relax the lower oesophageal sphincter?
calcium channel blockers*
nitrates*
theophyllines
What is Dubin Johnston syndrome?
Autosomal recessive disorder
Hyperbilirubinaemia - conjugated
THEREFORE DARK URINE
defect in the canillicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT) protein
Features of pharyngeal pouch?
More common in older men
Represents a posteromedial herniation between thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus muscles
Usually not seen but if large then a midline lump in the neck that gurgles on palpation
Typical symptoms are dysphagia, regurgitation, aspiration and chronic cough. Halitosis may occasionally be seen
Features of systemic sclerosis ? How does it cause dysphagia?
CREST
Calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, oEsophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly, Telangiectasia
Lower oesophageal sphincter is DECREASED
Features of globes hysterics?
There may be a history of anxiety
Symptoms are often intermittent and relieved by swallowing
Usually painless - the presence of pain should warrant further investigation for organic causes
Extrinsic causes of dysphagia?
Mediastinal masses
Cervical spondylosis
Oesophageal wall causes of dysphagia?
Achalasia
Diffuse oesophageal spasm
Hypertensive lower oesophageal sphincter
Intrinsic causes of dysphagia?
Tumours
Strictures
Oesophageal web
Schatzki rings (oesophageal ring of tissue)
Neurological causes of dysphagia?
CVA
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Brainstem pathology
Myasthenia Gravis
What is eosinophilic oesphagitis?
Allergic inflammation of the oesophagus
Biopsy demonstrates dense eosinophilic infiltration
Investigations of eosinophilic oesphagitis?
- PPI trials - if fails GORD is less likely and should consider eosinophilic oesphagitis
- Endoscopy
Management of eosinophilic oesphagitis?
Topical steroids
Oesophageal dilation - for strictures
Complications from eosinophilic oesphagitis?
Strictures of the oesophagus (56%)
Impaction: 55% of patients experience this, and 38% of these require endoscopic removal of the impaction
Mallory-Weiss tears
Increased ferritin + No iron overload?
Inflammation (due to ferritin being an acute phase reactant)
Alcohol excess
Liver disease
Chronic kidney disease
Malignancy
Increased ferritin + Iron overload?
Primary iron overload (hereditary haemochromatosis)
Secondary iron overload (e.g. following repeated transfusions)
How best to tell if there is iron overload?
Look at transferrin saturation
normal values of < 45% in females and < 50% in males exclude iron overload.
Features of acute cholecystitis?
Right upper quadrant pain
Fever
Murphys sign on examination
Occasionally mildly deranged LFT’s (especially if Mirizzi syndrome)
Features of gallbladder abscess?
Usually prodromal illness and right upper quadrant pain
Swinging pyrexia
Patient may be systemically unwell
Generalised peritonism not present