General surgery Flashcards
Give 3 differentials for epigastric pain?
- peptic ulcer disease
- cholecystitis
- pancreatitis
- GORD
Give 3 differentials for periumbelical region pain
- small or large bowel obstruction
- appendicitis
- AAA
Give 3 differentials for RUQ pain
- cholecystitis
- pyleonephritis
- ureteric colic
- hepatitis
- pneumonia
Give 3 differentials for LUQ pain
- gastric ulcer
- pyelonephrosis
- ureteric colic
- pneumonia
Give 3 differentials for LLQ pain?
- diverticulitis
- ureteric colic
- inguinal hernia
- IBD
- UTI
- gynaecological (PID, ectopic)
- testicular torsion
Give 3 differentials for RLQ pain?
- appendicitis
- ureteric colic
- inguinal hernia
- IBD
- UTI
- gynaecological
- testicular torsion
Give 4 causes of GI haemorrhage, and the clinical features of each
- ruptured AAA: central, back or loin pain w. syncope
- ectopic pregnancy: uni or bilateral, dull, sharp or crampy pain in L or RLQ, amenorrhea, female, PV bleeding
- bleeding gastric ulcer: epigastric or RUQ pain, haematemesis, malaena
- Trauma
- splenic rupture: trauma, hypovolaemic shock, LUQ pain radiating to left shoulder tip
Give 4 causes of perforated viscus, and the differential features of each?
- peptic ulceration: epigastric or RUQ pain
- small or large bowel obstruction: colicky or cramping pain, usually periumbelical + vomiting, absolute constipation, distension
- perforated diverticular disease: LLQ pain, localised or generalised peritonitis, hx diverticulitis
- inflammatory bowel disease
Give 3 causes of small bowel obstruction
- adhesions
- hernia
- cancer
- gall stone ileus
- foreign body
Give 3 causes of large bowel obstruction
- malignancy
- diverticular disease
- volvulus
- faecal impaction
- adhesions
Describe the clinical features of a perforated viscus
- they lay very still and do not move the abdomen
- appears very unwell
- tachycardia and hypotension
- rigid abdomen w/ percussion tenderness
- involuntary guarding
- absent or reduced bowel sounds suggest there is a paralytic ileus with it
- signs of peritonitis
Give 5 risk factors for a large bowel volvulus
- increasing age
- neuropsych disorders
- nursing home resident
- chronic constipation
- male
- previous abdo operations
What are the 2 most common types of volvulus
- sigmoid is most common
- caecal is 2nd
What are the 2 most common causes of ischaemic bowel? describe the differentiating features of each
- voluvus: obstruction features such as colicky pain, vomiting, distension, absolute constipation
- Mesenteric ischaemia: diffuse constant, out of proportion abdo pain, embolic sources such as AF, murmers, valve replacement
Describe the clinical features of ischaemic bowel?
- severe pain out of proportion with clinical signs
- metabolic acidosis and raised lactate
- very raised wcc
- pain diffuse and constant
- unremarkable clinical examination
What are the most common causes of mesenteric ischaemia? (4 categories)
- 50% embolic: AF, MI, prosthetic valve, abdo/ thoracic abdomen
- 25% thrombosis due to atherosclerosis
- 20% non occlusive (cardiogenic or hypovolaemic shock)
- 10% mesenteric venous thrombosis (coagulopathy, malignancy, inflammatory disorders)
Give 6 causes of acute pancreatitis
Gall stones Ethanol Trauma Steroids Mumps Autoimmune (SLE) Scorpion venom Hypercalcaemia ERCP Drugs (azathioprine, NSAIDS, diuretics) 10-20% idiopathic
Describe the pathophysiology of pancreatitis
Premature release and activation of digestive enzymes, these digest fats resulting in fat necrosis (causing hypocalcaemia), blood vessles get eroded and bleed causing retroperitoneal haemorrhage and causes pancreatic necrosis
Describe the clinical features of acute pancreatitis
- severe sudden onset epigastric pain radiating to the back
- N+v
- epigastric tenderness, soft abdomen and normal bowel sounds
- if severe may get guarding and rigid abdomen due to peritonism or signs of hypovolaemic shock due to bleeding
- grey turners sign (flank bruising) or cullens sign (umbelical bruising)
- tetany due to hypocalcaemia
- jaundice or cholangitis if gall stone is cause
What are grey turners an cullens signs and what do they indicate?
Grey turners= flank bruising
Cullens- umbelical brusing
Both indicate retroperitoneal bleeding due to acute pancreatitis, ruptured ectopic pregnancy, ruptured spleen, ruptured AAA
How should suspected acute pancreatitis be investigated?
- amylase: will be 3x the upper limit of normal
- LFTs: concurrent cholestatic element (ALT usually high)
- Serum lipase: not available in all hospitals
- ABG and routine bloods
- abdo USS looking for stones
- contrast enhanced CT if clinical assessment and blood are inconclusive or cause unknown
How should acute pancreatitis be managed?
- A-E with high flow O2, IV access, IV fluid resus, NG tube, catheter
- IV opioid analgesia
- HDU or ITU admission
- broad spectrum abx for prophylaxis against infection if pancreatic necrosis
- treat cause: gall stone-> laproscopic cholecystectomy/ ERCP or withdraw alcohol/ drugs etc
Give 5 complications of acute pancreatitis
- DIC
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- hypovolaemia
- hyperglycaemia
- hypovolaemic shock and multiorgan failure
- pancreatic necrosis
- pancreatic pseudocyst
other than acute pancreatitis, what may cause a raised amylase?
- bowel perforation
- ectopic pregnancy
- mesenteric ischaemia
- DKA
How is pancreatic necrosis diagnosed and treated?
- diagnosed with CT and fine needle aspirate
- needs pancreatic necrosectomy 3-5 weeks later
What is a pancreatic pseudocyst and what may they lead to?
- cysts that form a weeks after the initial episode of pancreatitis
- may cause biliary obstruction, gastric outlet obstruction, haemmorrhage or ruputre
- 50% resolve spontaneously, some get surgical debridement
Describe the clinical features of peritonitis
pain starts in one place before localising to another area or becoming more generalised, signs of sepsis and involuntary guarding
Give 3 causes of peritonitis
- appendicitis: periumbelical pain that moves to the RIF
- perforated bowel: doesnt move, septic, guarding
- peritoneal dialysis
- SBP in ascities
How should an acute abdomen be investigated? (10)
- urine dip: signs of infection, haematuria, cultures
- pregnancy test: ectopic
- ABG: useful in bleeding, bowel ischaemia, sepsis, to look for signs of tissue hypoperfusion and rapid Hb
- routine bloods: fbc, u&e, lft, crp, amylase, calcium, group and save/ xmatch
- blood cultures: if septic
- ECG: excludes MI
- USS: KUB if suspect renal tract pathology, biliary tree and liver if suspect gall stone, fallopian tubes if ectopic
- erect CXR: if suspect perforation
- AXR: if toxic megacolon, bowel obstruction or sigmoid volvulus suspected
- abdo/ pelvis CT with contrast: covers perforation, bleeding, volvulus, obstruction, ectopic, mesenteric ischaemia
Describe the initial management of the acute abdomen?
- A-E assessment
- IV access
- NBM
- analgesia +/- antiemetics
- imaging, urine sample, bloods
- VTE prophylaxis
- catheter and NG tube
- IV fluids and monitor fluid balance
- active major haemorrhage protocol or transfusions as appropriate
Describe the definitive management of a ruptured AAA
- permissive hypotension
- transfer to local vascular unit for open surgical repair
- or for CT angio and endovascular repair if stable and suitable
Describe the definitive management of an ectopic pregnancy
- laproscopy and salpingectomy if unstable and ruptured
Describe the definitive management of bleeding gastric ulcers
- OGD, adrenaline injections and cauterisation of bleeding
- high dose IV PPI and H. pylori eradication if necessary
- angio- embolisation if active bleeding eg gastroduodenal artery erosions
Describe the definitive management of volvulus?
- sigmoidoscope decompression and insertion of a flatus tube for upto 24hrs if sigmoid, flex sig if this is unsuccessful
- laparotomy and hartmans procedure is indicated if colonic ischaemia or perforation, failed decompresson or necrotic bowel noted at endoscopy
Give 2 complications fo volvulus?
- ischaemia
- bowel perforation
- 90% reoccur
- stoma
- death
Describe the definitive management of bowel obstruction (what is conservative management, when its used, when and what surgery is used)
- if no ischaemia or strangulation-> NBM, decompress stomach by NG tube sucking, IV fluids to correct electrolyte disturbances
- if adhesional and no ischaemia or perforation then do water soluable contrast study, if contrast reaches colon in 6hrs-> conservative, if not-> surgery
- if closed loop obstruction, small bowel obstruction in virgin abdomen, obstructing tumour, strangulated hernia, evidence of ischaemia or 48hrs no improvement with conservative management then urgent laparotomy
Describe the definitive management of mesenteric ischaemia
- laparotomy and excision of necrotic or non viable bowel with covering loop or end stoma which can be anastomosed later
- revascularisation via radiological intervention depending on state of pt, bowel and angiographic appearance of mesenteric vessels
- some pts can recover with fluids and supportive treatments, as it may have just been a temporary ischaemia so a period of monitoring to see if their bloods and clinical state improves or worsens may be opted for before an operation
Describe the definitive management of perforated bowel?
- if not septic and no peritonitis it can be conservatively managed
- oesphageal perforation needs endoscopically placed stent or just NG feeding
- peptic ulcers need bowel rest and PPI
- if unwell, peritonitis or failed conservative management they need surgery and thorough washout, repair of perforation or resection of area of disease with anastomosis or stoma
What is a closed loop bowel obstruction?
a second obstruction proximally (eg twist in bowel or competent ileocaecal valve) then the bowel will continue to distend until the wall becomes ischaemic and the wall will become ischaemic and perforate
Why does 3rd spacing occur in bowel obstruction
increased peristalsis of bowel to help move faeces past occluded segment + stagnation of faeces = secretion of large volumes of electrolyte rich fluid into the bowel
Describe the features of small bowel obstruction on an AXR
- bowel >3cm diametes
- central location
- valvulae conniventes (lines completely crossing bowel)
Describe the features of large bowel obstruction on an AXR
- bowel >6cm or 9cm at caecum
- peripheral location
- haustral lines (dont completely cross bowel)
- coffee bean sign if sigmoid volvulus
List 4 complications of acute appendicitis
- perforation
- surgical site infection
- appendix mass (oementum and small bowel adhere to appendix- conservatively managed)
- pelvic abscess (fever, RIF mass, CT to confirm, abx and drainage, CT follow up)
What is barretts oesphagus? what causes it and how does it appear on endoscopy?
- metaplasia of the strat squamous epithelium to simple columnar epithelium
- mainly due to GORD
- distal oesphagus appears red and velvety with some preserved pale squamous islands
How should barrettes oesophagus be managed? (for no dysplasia, low grade and high grade dysplasia)
- high dose PPI BD
- NSAIDS, smoking, alcohol, should be stopped
- lifestyle advice: sit up after eating, avoid spicy food etc
- no dysplasia-> monitor w/ endoscope every 2-5 years
- if low grade dysplasia monitor every 6 months
- high grade dysplasia and visible lesion present-> endoscopic ablation with mucosal resection or radiofrequency ablation
What are the two types of oesphageal cancer? what are each associated with?
- squamous cell carcinoma: middle- upper oesphagus, associated with smoking and excessive alcohol
- adenocarcinoma: lower oesphagus due to barretts oesphagus from reflux
- leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and lymphoma also occur but are rare
Describe the features of oesophageal cancer?
- dysphagia: progressive, initially only to solids and then liquids later, all dysphagia is ca until proven otherwise
- significant weight loss
- odynophagia
- hoarseness
- dysphagia weight loss, upper abdo pain, dyspepsia or reflux qualify for 2WW for urgent endoscopy
Give 4 differentials for dysphagia?
- mechanical: benign strictures, extrinsic compression, pharyngeal pouch, foreign body
- neuromuscular: stroke, achalasia, oesophageal spasm, myasthenia gravis
How should suspected oesophageal cancer be investigated?
- upper Gi endoscopy and biopsy for histology
- CT CAP and PET CT to lok for mets
- endoscopic USS to measure penetration into the oesophagus wall and assess biopsy mediastinal lymph nodes
- laparoscopy is often used to look for intraperitoneal mets if the tumour has an intra- abdominal component
- bronchoscopy may be warranted if hoarseness or haemoptysis
outline the management of oesphageal cancer?
- 70% palliative as usually presents with advanced disease
- palliative options inc oesophageal stents, radio and chemo, nutritional support and thickened fluids
- SCC: chemoradiotherapy usually only choice as upper oesphagus is too complex to operate on, if lower usually get surgery + chemoradio
- Adenocarcinoma: neoadjuvant chemoradio + oesophageal resection
- the surgery is a large procedure and carries a 4% 30 day mortality rate and they need jejunostomy for feeding straight into the bowel, so pts need to be fit for it
What are the two major oesophageal motility disorders?
Achalasia and diffuse oesophageal spasm, rarer causes inc autoimmune (systemic sclerosis, polymyositis) and CT disorders may cause dysmotility
What is achalasia? what age group does it tend to affect?
- failure of smooth muscle relaxation in the oesophagus
- thought to be due to progressive destruction of ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus
- mean age of diagnosis is 50
Describe the features of achalasia?
- progressive dysphagia of solids and food boluses
- feels as though they get stuck before entering stomach as LOS doesnt relax
- may also get vomiting, cough, discomfort and poor nutritional status with it
How is achalasia investigated?
- urgent endoscopy as could be cancer
- oesophageal manometry is gold standard for diagnosis (pressure probe placed just above LOS, there will be no peristalsis an failure of the LOS to relax with high tone)
- barium swallows are rarely performed now
How is achalasia managed?
- conservative: many pillows when sleeping to reduce regurg, eat slowly and chew thoroughly, CCBs, botox and nitrate may provide short term relief
- Surgical: endoscopic balloon dilation of LOS, 75% get good response, 5% get perforation OR laparscopic heller myotomy = division of fibre of LOS, 85% long term improvement and fewer side effects
What is diffuse oesophageal spasm?
mutlifocal high amplitude contractions of the oesophagus