General Surgery Flashcards
Main causes of pancreatitis?
Gallstones
Alcohol
Post-ERCP
Pancreatitis causes pneumonic
- I – Idiopathic
- G – Gallstones
- E – Ethanol
- T – Trauma
- S – Steroids
- M – Mumps
- A – Autoimmune
- S – Scorpion sting
- H – Hyperlipidaemia
- E – ERCP
- D – Drugs (furosemide, thiazide diuretics, azathioprine)
Investigation for severity of pancreatitis?
Glasgow score
Glasgow score pneumonic?
(<3 = mild/moderate, >3 = severe):
* P – PaO2 <8kPa
* A – Age > 55
* N – Neutrophils (WBC >15)
* C – Calcium < 2
* R – Renal, Urea >16
* E – Enzymes, LDH >600 or AST/ALT >200
* A – Albumin <32
* S – Sugar (glucose >10)
What is Cullen’s sign?
Bluish discolouration around umbilicus
What is Grey-turner’s sign?
Bluish discolouration around flank
What is Fox’s Sign?
Bluish discolouration around inguinal ligament
What enzymes are replaced in pancreatic enzyme replacement?
CREON - Lipase + amylase + protease
What is acute cholangitis?
Bile duct inflammation
What is cholecystitis?
Gallbladder inflammation
What is cholestasis?
Biliary obstruction
Biliary colic px
- Intermittent RUQ/epigastric pain due to bile duct blockage
- Associated with eating fatty foods
- Pain may radiate to shoulder tip
- Pain lasts between 30 mins and 8 hours
- N&V
What triggers contraction of the gallbladder?
Fat -> CKK secretion into duodenum
Ix of biliary colic?
- LFT (↑bilirubin, ↑ALP, ↑ALT) + ultrasound
- MRCP if ultrasound negative but:
a. Dilated bile duct and/or
b. Abnormal LFT
Mx of gallbladder stones?
1 Asymptomatic -> no treatment
2 Symptomatic -> laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of gallbladder)
- Within 1 week if acute cholecystitis
3 Gallbladder empyema + surgery contra-indicated or conservative mx unsuccessful
-> Percutaneous cholecystostomy (drain pus from gallbladder)
Mx of common bile duct stones?
Asymptomatic or symptomatic:
-> Clear the bile duct + laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Clear bile duct with ERCP while awaiting laparoscopic cholecystectomy
If ERCP doesn’t work -> temporary stent for drainage
What is ascending cholangitis?
Ascending bacterial infection of biliary tree.
The blocking gallstones initiate an inflammatory response -> Toxin release [emergency]
Ix & Mx of ascending cholangitis
Ix – FBC (↑WCC, ↑ESR, ↑CRP), serum amylase
* USS
Mx – IV antibiotics, urgent biliary drainage
Appendicitis px:
- Abdo pain – Starts central and moves to RIF over 24h, worse on movement
- Low grade fever, N&V, loss of appetite
- Guarding
What is Rovsing’s sign?
Left iliac fossa palpation increase pain in RIF
What is McBurney’s point?
Maximal tenderness 2/3rds way along a line drawn from umbilicus to the anterior superior iliac spine
Dx of appendicitis?
Ultrasound, abdo CT, MRI
Who is at risk of diverticular disease?
Elderly, low fibre diet, obese, NSAID use
What is diverticulosis and px?
Colonic muscle over-activity -> Herniation of mucosa and submucosa through muscular layer
Asymptomatic
Large, painless rectal bleed