General Surgery Flashcards
Dysphagia + regurgitation of stale food + halitosis
Dx
Investigation
Zenker’s diverticulum - pharyngeal pouch
Barium swallow - endoscopy is contraindicated
Old age patient with worsening dysphagia - for solids and then for soft foods and liquids
Long-standing gastric reflux
Suspect?
Oesophageal carcinoma
- barium swallow = irregular narrowing + proximal shouldering
Most common type of oesophageal ca
Adenocarcinoma
How is dx of oesophageal ca made
Upper GI endoscopy + biopsy
RFs for oesophageal ca (2)
GERD
Barrett’s oesophagus
Features of gastric carcinoma
Virchows node
Wt loss old age tiredness vomiting dyspepsia anemia
May have associated hepatomegaly and ascites
Late stage metastasises to liver
RFs gastric carcinoma (6)
Old age Blood group A H pylori Smoking Spicy food Pernicious anemia
Haemoglobin levels before surgery
- elective
- emergency
Elective :
<10 - delay , investigate anemia
<8 -transfuse and defer surgery
Emergency
<10 - proceed with surgery
<8 - transfuse blood + proceed with surgery
Causes of hypercalcemia
Multiple myeloma
Sarcoidosis
SCC of lung
Breast and prostate ca
Diverticulosis mainly occurs on
Sigmoid colon - left lower abdomen
Analgesia after open surgery
Patient controlled analgesia with morphine
Operating on patients with history of MI
No elective surgery fro at least 6 months after MI
Features of obstructive jaundice
Jaundice, dark urine, pale stools
Raised ALP
Most appropriate investigation obstructive jaundice
US abdomen
Causes of obstructive jaundice
Choledolithiasis
Cancer head of pancreas - painless jaundice
Periampullary tumour
Feared complication of hemicolectomy
Anastomotic leak
- 5-10 days after surgery
RFs for anastomotic leak
DM Smoking Immunocompromised - RA, asthma, COPD, steroid use Rectal anastomoses Peritoneal contamination
Complications of an anastomotic leak
Intra-abdominal abscess
Peritonitis
- start BSA and do CT abdo pelvis with contrast
Investigation done for suspected colorectal ca
Colonoscopy
Presentations of colorectal ca
Left
Right
Left -
obstructive sx, changes in bowel habits, dark blood per rectum
+anemia + wt loss
Right - caecal
Microscopic bleeding, obstructive sx less common as diameter is wider
Abscess at site of skin suture
Treatment
Local exploration
ABx and drainage
Chariots triad seen in
FRJ
Fever + right upper abdominal pain + jaundice
Ascending cholangitis
Reynolds Pentad
Charcot’s + confusion + hypotension
Management of ascending cholangitis
Broad spectrum antibiotic - ampicillin-sulbactam
Biliary drainage
Complications of thyroidectomy (4)
Hypocalcemia - parathyroid damage/removal
Acute airway obstruction - hematoma
= evacuate hematoma
Nerve injury
- unilateral to RLN - hoarseness
- bilateral to RLN- aphonia, airway obstruction
- ext branch sup laryngeal - dysphonia = loss of high pitched sounds = monotone
Wound infection
Rare and serious complication of hypocalcemia
Impetigo herpetiform
ECG findings hypocalcemia
Prolonged QT
Treatment of hypocalcemia
10 ml 10% calcium gluconate
Thyroid storm
Cause
Features
Manipulation of thyroid during surgery in hyperthyroid pt
Tachycardia, palpitation, high body temperature, diarrhoea, vomiting, reduced consciousness, tremors
Treatment of thyroid storm
Beta blockers - propanolol
- control tachy and tremors
High dose steroids - inhibits T4 to T3 conversion
Features of acute mesenteric ischemia
Causes
Sudden onset severe abd pain + tenderness - exceed physical signs
Abd distension + absent bowel sounds
VBG lactate is HIGH
Gangrene irreversible
AF - emboli occlude blood supply of large segment of mesentery
MI pt develops hypotension>low blood reaching mesentery
Treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia
O2
IV fluids, analgesia, antibiotics and then urgent surgery
Ischemic colitis
Features
Cause
Transient interruption of blood supply to colon
Gradual onset - over hours
Pain and tenderness = mod -severe, usually starts at LIF
+- bloody diarrhoea
Cause= multi factorial - HF, MI, shock etc
Treatment of ischemic colitis
Conservative or surgical management
Respiatory alkalosis while on oxygen face mask
Next step
= hyperoxemia
Reduce O2
Post op oliguria
Investigation
Management
Usually happens after epidural analgesia
Post void residual volume on bladder scan
If > 500 - re insert catheter
Post op - hypotensive and oliguric
Iv fluid challenge
Might be internal bleeding or acute renal injury
RFs for anorectal abscess (3)
DM
Immunocompromised
Chromes disease
Perianal fistula management
Superficial (simple/low fistula)
= lay open (fistulotomy)
Deep (complex/high)
- crosses internal and external sphincters
= seton suture, ligation on inter-sphincteric fistula tract
Diabetic pre-op management
(T2DM)
Major surgery
Minor surgery
Major
- stop oral hypoglycemic before surgery
Minor
- continue same routine