General Surgery Block Flashcards
Describe Munchausen’s syndrome
a psychological disorder where someone pretends to be ill or deliberately produces symptoms of illness in themselves.
Eg a drug seeker so that they get medications
What is absolute constipation?
Absence of passing wind
Describe Rosvig’s sign?
Press on LIF and in a patient with appendicitis, they will get pain in RIF
In which condition may bowel sounds be absent?
Ileus
When may bowel sounds be tinkling?
Obstruction
Looking at a patient from end of bed check, if they are rocking around the bed and can’t sit still what condition would this suggest?
Renal colic
Looking at a patient from the end of bed check, if they are lying still and not moving with ‘board like rigidity’ what would this suggest?
Perforated duodenal ulcer
What is cullen’s sign and what condition does it point you towards?
Cullen’s sign - peri-umbilical bruising
Sign of pancreatitis
What is Grey Turner’s sign and what condition does it point you towards?
Flank bruising
Sign of pancreatitis
When taking a set of bloods in general surgery, why should you always remember to do amylase?
To check for pancreatitis
Why is an erect CXR useful?
If it shows free air under the diaphragm
What are the 3 main uses of an AXR and why should you generally try to avoid it?
Avoid it where possible - expose patient to lots of radiation Use if ?obstruction ?colitis ?perforation
What is the gold standard investigation for acute abdomen?
CT scan
What is the gold standard investigation for RUQ pain?
Ultrasound
MRI is very useful in the acute abdomen. True or false?
False
What is pretty much the only use for MRI in the acute abdomen?
pregnant appendices
In the setting of the acute abdomen, who needs to go to theatre right away
Ischaemic gut
Faecal peritonitis
Board like rigidity on abdominal examination and free air under the diaphragm on erect CXR. What does this make you think of?
Perforated duodenal ulcer
Name 4 colonic emergencies
Obstruction
Perforation
Volvulus
Colitis
If someone has a volvulus, how do you manage it?
Urgent flexible/rigid sigmoidoscope
Management of acute diverticulitis
Either a spectrum of antibiotics or Hartmann’s operation
Which classification is used for diverticulitis
Hinchey classification
Explain what a Hartmann’s procedure is?
Remove sigmoid colon, leave the rectum, bring out colostomy
For emergency surgery in IBD, subtotal colectomy is used for crohn’s / UC ?
Ulcerative colitis
For emergency surgery in IBD, resection is used for crohn’s / UC ?
Crohn’s
ileostomy is which shape?
Rose
Young patient with UC gets a proctocolectomy. Would they most likely want:
- end ileostomy
- pouch
- ileorectal anastamosis
Pouch
What are the disadvantages of having a pouch?
Increased bowel movements
Increased faecal nocturnal incontinence
Most likely to develop colorectal cancer if you have crohn’s disease / UC ?
UC
What is most likely to be cured by surgery: crohn’s or UC?
UC
All inguinal hernias should be fixed. True or false?
False
- some can be managed conservatively
All femoral hernias should be fixed. True or false?
True
- Femoral = FIX
Femoral hernias:
Below/Above and medial/lateral to pubic tubercle
Below and lateral to pubic tubercle
indirect inguinal hernia vs direct inguinal hernia
Direct inguinal hernia - pops out when pt coughs
Indirect inguinal hernia - does not pop ot when patient coughs
Triad of the following makes you think of what condition:
fever
back pain
limp
Psoas abscess
Where is McBurney’s point?
1/3rd of the way along the right ASIS and umbilicus
In young adults, appendicitis is most common in males or females?
Males
3:2 male:female
Why is the greater ommentum known as the ‘police officer’ in the abdomen
if there is an area of inflammation, the greater ommentum is attracted and sticks onto it
Appendicitis can lead to peritonitis. True or false?
True
Patient with colicky central abdominal pain which migrates to RIF, nausea, off food, hasn’t passed bowel movement that day. What does this make you think of?
Acute appendicitis
Specific sign of appendicitis
Rosvig’s sign
Periumbilical abdominal pain which was colicky that then goes away. Flushed, bad breath.
Retrocaecal appendicitis
Scoring system for appendicitis
Alvarado score
Appendicitis is diagnosed radiologically. True or false?
False - clinical diagnosis but US can be helpful
What is the management of appendix mass?
Antibiotics first line
Theatre only if symptoms persist
Describe an ileus
When the bowels effectively go on strike and dont work for a few days
What does carcinoid of the appendix stain for
Stains heavily for chromagrannin
If a patient’s terminal ileum has to be removed, what must you replace?
B12 and folate
What is the most common cause of small bowel obstruction
Adhesions
Causes of small bowel obstruction - within the lumen (2)
Food
Gallstones
Causes of small bowel obstruction - within the wall of the small bowel (2)
Crohn’s disease
tumour
Central colicky abdominal pain, nausea, very awful smelling vomit, absolute constipation, burping, abdominal distention. What is the likely diagnosis?
Small bowel obstruction
Bowel sounds will be noisy / quiet in small bowel obstruction?
Noisy
Management of small bowel obstruction
Drip and suck
- put the patient on a drip to get fluids into them
- suck out the fluids and air with an NG tube (Ryles tube)
Only drip and suck adhesional small bowel obstruction. True or false?
True
How do you define an adhesional small bowel obstruction?
A patient must have had a previous abdominal operation
Elderly frail patient with colicky abdominal pain and pretty unimpressive bloods, abdo XR normal, huge amount of analgesia. essentially pain out of proportion to clinical findings. What is the likely diagnosis?
Mesenteric ischaemia of the small bowel
Meckel’s diverticulum location
2ft above the ileo-caecal valve
Meckel’s diverticulum usually presents in childhood / adulthood ?
Childhood
Which needs immediate theatre small bowel obstruction or small bowel mesenteric ischaemia?
small bowel mesenteric ischaemia
The appendix is supplied by which dermatome?
T10
Referred pain for RUQ goes where and why is this?
RUQ pain can be referred to right shoulder
This is because phrenic nerve (C3,4,5) supplies diaphragm but is found at the neck. Shared nerve supply
A patient with epigastric pain and raised amylase makes you think of what diagnosis?
Pancreatitis
Lipase is raised and specific to which condition
Pancreatitis
Which imaging modality is carried out in pregnant females with acute abdominal pain: CT or MRI?
MRI
- do NOT CT in pregnancy
Dilated bowel loops on AXR makes you think
Obstruction
How would you manage an AXR which shows dilated bowel loops and faecal impaction?
Constipation - Laxative to get things moving
How would you manage an AXR which shows dilated bowel loops and NO faecal impaction?
Bowel obstruction
Stepladder pattern on AXR suggests what?
small bowel obstruction
which looks more central on AXR: small bowel obstruction or large bowel obstruction?
Small bowel obstruction
Describe the stepladder pattern on AXR
Central dilation of small bowel (obstruction)
straight lines are seen going all the way through the calibre of the small bowel)
Small bowel / large bowel has valvae conientes?
small bowel
Small bowel / large bowel has haustra ?
Large bowel
What is the investigation of choice for a 23 year old female with suspected appendicitis ?
US
- any female US abdo
What is the investigation of choice for a male OR female over 40 with suspected appendicitis?
CT scan
- must have CT to rule out malignancy
What is the investigation of choice for a male UNDER 40 with suspected appendicitis?
No investigation required
Operate on clinical diagnosis
Which vessels is the deep inguinal ring marked by?
Inferior epigastric vessels
What are the 3 borders of the femoral triangle
Inguinal ligament (superior) Adductor longus Sartorius
What are the contents of the femoral triangle from medial to lateral?
Medial -> lateral: Deep inguinal lymph nodes Vein (femoral) Artery (femoral) Nerve (femoral)
VANS drive OUT (from medial to lateral)
What 2 components make up the femoral sheath?
Femoral artery and femoral vein
Why are femoral hernias more of a worry than inguinal hernias?
The femoral canal has tough walls and there is not much room for expansion. So increased risk of strangulation or obstruction if bowel gets stuck in there
What is the definition of the mid inguinal point?
Where you feel the femoral pulse
What is the midpoint of the inguinal ligament?
Deep inguinal ring
Irreducible hernia
Cannot be pushed back in
Incarcerated hernia
Hernia is stuck in its sack
Strangulated hernia
Blood supply is cut off
Which of the following is IN the inguinal canal
- indirect inguinal hernia
- direct inguinal hernia
Indirect inguinal hernia
If a hernia is in scrotum it must be a direct/indirect inguinal hernia??
Indirect inguinal hernia
- since the spermatic cord passes through the inguinal ring
Which types of hernia strangulate/obstruct more frequently?
- indirect inguinal hernia
- direct inguinal hernia
Indirect inguinal hernia
Which features in the history would specifically suggest ADHESIONAL bowel obstruction
Previous surgeries
Management of sigmoid volvulus with no signs of strangulation
Rigid/flexible sigmoidoscope detorsion
Who gets intusuception
children, age 3-4
Briefly describe intusucception and explain the most common location for it to occur
Telescoping of the bowel in on itself
Most commonly occurs at the ileo-caecal junction
Failure of passing any stool in the first 24 hours after birth is called
Meconium ileus
Coffee bean shape on AXR suggests
Volvulus
Name the 2 most common causes of small bowel obstruction?
Hernia
Adhesions
Name the 2 most common causes of large bowel obstruction?
Malignancy
Volvulus
Volvulus is most common in the small/large bowel?
Why?
Volvulus most common in large bowel.
Small bowel is full of fluid so less likely to volv. Whereas large bowel has more semi-solid substances and more likely to volv.
Vomiting causes which ABG
Metabolic alkalosis
Dehydration causes which ABG
Metabolic acidosis
Vomiting occurs early/late in large bowel obstruction
Late
Constipation occurs early/late in large bowel obstruction
Early
Clinical features of large bowel obstruction (4)
Colicky peripheral abdominal pain
Constipation
Abdominal distention
Vomiting (bile -> faecal)
Clinical features of small bowel obstruction (4)
Colicky central abdominal pain
Vomiting early, large volume (bile)
Constipation
Clinical examination findings of bowel obstruction
Distended abdomen Diffuse abdominal tenderness Tympanic percussion Tinkling bowel sounds (early) Absent bowel sounds (late)
Name 3 symptoms/signs which indicate complication in bowel obstruction
Change in the nature of pain
Rebound tenderness
Signs of sepsis
Name 2 of the most common complications of bowel obstruction
Bowel ischaemia
Bowel perforation
First line imaging investigation in suspected bowel obstruction
AXR
- small bowel = central
- large bowel = peripheral
Lumen above Xcm indicates dilation of small bowel
3cm
Lumen above Xcm indicates dilation of large bowel
6cm
Initial management of bowel obstruction
Urgent resuscitation
- drip and suck
- drip: fluid resuscitation, re-balance electrolytes
- suck: NG tube for intestinal decompression
Management of bowel obstruction caused by adhesions
Conservative
- drip and suck
- active monitoring
- usually don’t need surgery
Management of bowel obstruction with ischaemia / perforation
Surgery - laparotomy
Define paralytic ileus
When the peristaltic engine of the bowel is not working. THere is limited power to push things forward in the intesting.
There is NO mechanical obstruction
Name 5 causes of paralytic ileus (5Ps)
Post operative low Potassium Pelvic or spinal fracture Peritonitis Partuition (child birth)
Paralytic ileus - blood test findings
HYPOKALAEMIA
Hypomagnesia
Paralytic ileus - what does imaging show
uniformly distended loops with no transition point and no mechanical cause
Male over 55 presenting with symptoms like renal colic. What should you be wary of and consider?
AAA
Define aneurysm
Permanent dilation of artery by over 50% of normal diameter
True aneurysm
All 3 layers of artery wall involved
False / pseudo aneurysm
Only the outermost layer (tunica externa) is involved
Name 3 congenital causes of aneurysm
PKD
Marfan’s syndrome
Ehlers danlos syndrome
Risk factors for aneurysm
Male gender Over 65 Obesity Smoking Hypertension FH
Features of AAA rupture
Epigastric/umbilical pain - sudden onset - radiates to back Collapse Hypotension Expansile pulsatile mass
Best imaging for AAA rupture
CT angiogram
Repair an asymptomatic AAA when it reaches what size?
5.5cm
Why should you not give the patient lots of IV fluids to restore BP in AAA rupturee
Will be a retroperitoneal rupture so don;t want to disrupt the tamponade. BP only needs to be ensuring the patient is getting their brain perfused
7 month old child crying and bringing legs up to chest, vomiting and diarhoea, target sign on US. WHat is the likely diagnosis?
Intusucception
When you have a patient with a neck lump, there are 3 situations:
Lump does not move on swallowing
Lump moves on swallowing
Lump moves on swallowing and moves when tongue stuck out
Describe the likely causes for each
Lump does not move on swallowing
- lymph node or salivary gland issue
Lump does move on swallowing
- thyroid issue
Lump does move on swallowing and moves when tongue stuck out
- thyroglossal cyst
Young 18 year old female complains of neck lump. In the midline, moves on swallowing and when she sticks her tongue out. What is the likely diagnosis?
Thyroglossal cyst
When taking a history from a patient with a neck lump, what are the 2 important points you need to ascertain?
Previous radiation exposure
FH of thyroid problems
When examining a patient with a neck lump, what are the 2 most important things to check for?
Hoarse voice
Lymphadenopathy
Thyroid nodule + neck lymphadenopathy is ____ until proven otherwise
Papillary thyroid cancer
When it comes to neck lumps, what is the 5% rule
5% of females will have a thyroid lump at some point
5% will be malignant
5% will be on thyroxine at some stage
First line imaging investigation for patient with thyroid nodule?
US guided FNA
For thyroid pathology, when should you use an uptake (isotope) scan?
If TSH level is suppressed, use it to see if it is a solitary toxic adenoma
In graves disease, what would an uptake (isotope) scan look like?
Hot all over
Bile which overspills into the bloodstream causes
Jaundice
Which US findings would suggest cholecystitis?
Thickened GB wall (inflammation)
Presence of gallstones
Peri-cholecystic fluid
Transient RUQ pain, worse after eating meals (esp fatty meals), radiates to back, pain goes away after a few hours. What does this suggest?
Biliary colic
Crampy RUQ pain radiates to back, tender, fever, vomiting. What are the differentials
Acute cholecystitis
Ascending cholangitis
Pyelonephritis
Acute pancreatitis
Which LFT will likely be raised in acute cholecystitis ?
Raised ALP and bilirubin
Which LFT will be raised in liver problems?
AST (T = trauma to the liver)
Investigations for patient presenting with acute cholecystitis
Bloods
US
MRCP
Erect CXR
Someone with obstructive jaundice. How do you manage it?
ERCP
Name 2 causes of obstructive jaundice
Ascending cholangitis
Pancreatic cancer
pt with Amylase 400 and pt with amylase 1000. Which pt has the most severe case of pancreatitis?
Can’t tell
- amylase doesnt tell you how severe pancreatitis is
Will billirubin be conjugated or unconjugated in obstructive jaundice
Conjugated
Diagnosis and treatment of ascending cholangitis
Diagnosid: MRCP
Treatment: ERCP / cholecystectomy
What is the best investigation for ?gallstones
abdominal US
Management of pancreatitis
IV fluids and analgesia
DO NOT give antibiotics routinely
Cullen’s sign - how do you get this
Pancreatitis
Bruising around umbilicus arises from blood travelling down the falciform ligament