General Surgery Flashcards
How can you differentiate the following in terms of pain, fever and jaundice?
Biliary Colic
Acute cholecystitis
Ascending cholangitis
Colic: Intermittent pain
Acute cholecystitis: Constant pain + fever
Ascending cholangitis*: Constant pain + Fever+ jaundice/raised bilirubin
*Also have confusion and hypotension
What is the first line imaging for biliary pathology
USS to exclude obstruction
What is the treatment for the following?
Biliary Colic
Acute Cholecystitis
Ascending cholangitis
Colic: Cholecystectomy within 6 weeks
Cholecystitis: Cholecystectomy in 1 week
Cholangitis: Urgent ERCP (24-48hrs)
How can the following be differentiated from colic/acute cholangitis/ascending cholangitis?
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Primary biliary sclerosis
Cholangiocarcinoma
Have RUQ pain and jaundice
No fever
PSC/PBC cause itching
RUQ mass +/- shoulder/umbilical nodes in cholangiocarcinoma
What is the first and definitive line investigation in PSC/PBC?
USS for obstruction
MRCP for biliary tree visualisation
What is the first line and definitive imaging in cholangiocarcinoma?
USS
CT
What condition gives a ‘beaded’ appearance on MRCP?
PSC
What RUQ pain condition is most associated with ulcerative colitis?
PSC
How does PSC and PBC differ in terms of immune markers?
PSC: p-ANCA
PBC: AMA-2, raised IgM
What can be used to treat itch due to raised bilirubin?
Cholestyramine
Outline the treatments for
PSC
PBC
Cholangiocarcinoma
PSC: Liver transplant
PBC: Ursodeoxycholic acid transplant
Cholangiocarcinoma: Typically palliative measures (can potentially resect if really
What are the causes of acute pancreatitis?
I GET SMASHED
Idiopathic
Gallstones
Ethanol (alcohol)
Trauma
Steroids
MUMPS/malignancy
Autoimmune
Scorpion sting
Hypercalcaemia
ERCP
Drugs
What scoring system is used for severe pancreatitis?
Glasgow criteria: PANCREAS
PaO2 < 8
Age >55
Neutrophils >15
Calcium < 2
Renal (urea > 16)
Enzymes LDH +++
Albumin <32
Sugar >10
Severe pancreatitis >=3
What are the investigations for acute pancreatitis?
1st: Amylase/lipase (>=3x is diagnostic)
GS: CT with contrast
USS to check for obstructive cause
What is the management of acute pancreatitis?
Slow enteral (NG tube) feeding IV Fluids and analgesia
Milder pancreatitis symptoms 3 weeks post acute pancreatitis indicates what?
Pseudocyst
Milder symptoms and amylase raise
Conservative management
How do you investigate chronic pancreatitis?
- CT with contrast for calcification
- Faecal elastase for malabsorption if above unclear
How often should chronic pancreatitis have Hb1AC monitored?
Annually
Painless jaundice indicates what?
Pancreatic cancer until proven otherwise
What is the first line and GS investigations for pancreatic cancer?
1st: USS for obstruction
GS: High-res CT