General Surgery in the GI Tract Flashcards
What is the general approach to an acute abdomen (6)?
PC
* Pain assessment (SOCRATES), associated symptoms
PMHx
DHx
SHx
Range of investigations (depending on presentation):
* Bloods: VBG, FBC, CRP, U&Es (renal profile), LFTs + amylase
* Urinalysis + Urine MC&S
* Imaging: Erect CXR, AXR, CTAP, CT angiogram, USS
* Endoscopy
Management:
* ABCDE approach
* Conservative management
* Surgical management
Site
Onset
Character
Radiation
Association
Time course
Exacerbating/Relieving factors
Severity
Give 3 differential diagnoses of a RUQ acute abdomen.
- Bilary Colic
- Cholecystitis / Cholangitis
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Liver abscess
- Portal vein thrombosis
- Acute hepatitis
- Nephrolithiasis
- RLL pneumonia
Give 3 differential diagnoses of an epigastrium acute abdomen.
- Acute gastritis / GORD
- Gastroparesis
- Peptic ulcer disease/perforation
- Acute pancreatitis
- Mesenteric ischaemia
- AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm) Aortic dissection
- Myocardial infarction
Give 3 differential diagnoses of a LUQ acute abdomen.
- Peptic ulcer
- Acute pancreatitis
- Splenic abscess
- Splenic infarction
- Nephrolithiasis
- LLL Pneumonia
Give 3 differential diagnoses of a RLQ acute abdomen.
- Acute Appendicitis
- Colitis
- IBD
- Infectious colitis
- Ureteric stone / Pyelonephritis
- PID / Ovarian torsion
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Malignancy
Give 3 differential diagnoses of a suprapubic / central
acute abdomen.
- Early appendicitis
- Mesenteric ischaemia
- Bowel obstruction
- Bowel perforation
- Constipation
- Gastroenteritis
- UTI / Urinary retention
- PID
Give 3 differential diagnoses of a LLQ acute abdomen.
- Diverticulitis
- Colitis
- IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)
- Infectious colitis
- Ureteric stone / Pyelonephritis
- PID / Ovarian torsion
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Malignancy
What are the 2 main forms of bowel ischaemia?
- Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) (small bowel)
- Ischaemic Colitis (IC) (large bowel)
What is the clinical presentation of acute mesenteric ischaemia (SOCRATES)?
- Site: Small bowel
- Onset: Sudden (but presentation and severityvaries)
- Character: Crampy
- Radiation: Varies
- Association: Bloody, loose stool & Fever
- Time course: Hours until treatment
- Exacerbating / Relieving factors: Exacerbated by eating
- Severity: Abdominal pain out of proportion of clinical signs
Usually occlusive due to thromboemboli
What is the clinical presentation of ischaemic colitis (SOCRATES)?
- Site: Large bowel
- Onset: More mild and gradual (80-85% of the cases)
- Character: Crampy
- Radiation: Varies
- Association: Bloody, loose stoole & Fever
- Time course: Hours until treatment
- Exacerbating / Relieving factors: Exacerbated by eating
- Severity: Moderate pain and tenderness
Usually due to non-occlusive low flow states, or atherosclerosis
What are the risk factors of bowel ischaemia (6)?
Bowel ischaemia:
* Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) (small bowel)
* Ischaemic Colitis (IC) (large bowel)
- Age >65 yr
- Cardiac arrythmias (mainly AF), atherosclerosis
- Hypercoagulation / thrombophilia
- Vasculitis
- Sickle cell disease
- Profound shock causing hypotension
What investigations are recommended for suspected bowel ischaemia (4)?
Bowel ischaemia:
* Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) (small bowel)
* Ischaemic Colitis (IC) (large bowel)
- Bloods
- FBC
- VBG
- Imaging
- CTAP / CTAngiogram
- Endoscopy
What blood abnormalities would one expect in a suspected bowel ischaemia (2)?
Bowel ischaemia:
* Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) (small bowel)
* Ischaemic Colitis (IC) (large bowel)
- FBC: neutrophilic leukocytosis
- VBG: lactic acidosis
What CTAP/CT angiogram abnormalities would one expect in a suspected bowel ischaemia?
Bowel ischaemia:
* Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) (small bowel)
* Ischaemic Colitis (IC) (large bowel)
- Disrupted flow
- Vascular stenosis
- ‘Pneumatosis intestinalis’ (transmural ischaemia / infarction)
- Ischaemic colitis: Thumbprint sign (unspecific sign of colitis)
What endoscopic abnormalities would one expect in a suspected bowel ischaemia?
Bowel ischaemia:
* Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) (small bowel)
* Ischaemic Colitis (IC) (large bowel)
For mild or moderate cases of ischaemic colitis:
* Oedema / cyanosis / ulceration of mucosa
When is conservative management indicated for bowel ischaemia?
Bowel ischaemia:
* Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) (small bowel)
* Ischaemic Colitis (IC) (large bowel)
- Mild to moderate cases of ischaemic colitis (not suitable for SB ischaemia)
What is the conservative management for bowel ischaemia (7)?
Bowel ischaemia:
* Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) (small bowel)
* Ischaemic Colitis (IC) (large bowel)
- IV fluid resuscitation
- Bowel rest
- Broad-spectrum ABx - colonic ischaemia can result in bacterial translocation & sepsis
- NG tube for decompression - in concurrent ileus
- Anticoagulation
- Treat / manage underlying cause
- Serial abdominal examination and repeat imaging
When is surgical management indicated for bowel ischaemia (5)?
Bowel ischaemia:
* Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) (small bowel)
* Ischaemic Colitis (IC) (large bowel)
- Small bowel ischaemia
- Signs of peritonitis or sepsis
- Haemodynamic instability
- Massive bleeding
- Fulminant colitis with toxic megacolon
What is the surgical management for bowel ischaemia (2)?
Bowel ischaemia:
* Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) (small bowel)
* Ischaemic Colitis (IC) (large bowel)
-
Exploratory laparotomy:
- Resection of necrotic bowel +/-open surgicalembolectomy or mesenteric arterial bypass
-
Endovascular revascularisation:
- Balloon angioplasty/thrombectomy
- In patients without signs of ischaemia
What is the clinical presentation of acute appendicitis (SOCRATES)?
- Site:
- McBurney’s point: tenderness in the RLQ (lateral 1/3 of a hypothetical line drawn from the right ASIS to the umbilicus)
- Onset: Sudden
- Character: Sharp, stabbing
- Radiation: Initially periumbilical pain that migrates to RLQ
- Association: Anorexia, nausea +/- vomiting, low grade fever, change in bowel habit
- Time course: 24h escalation
- Exacerbating/Relieving factors:
- Rovsing sign: RLQ pain elicited on deep palpation of the LLQ
- Psoas sign: RLQ pain elicited on flexion of right hip against resistance
- Obturator sign: RLQ pain on passive internal rotation of the hip with hip & knee flexion
- Severity: Varies & increases through time
What is McBurney’s point?
Present in Acute Appendicitis
- Tenderness in the RLQ (lateral 1/3 of a hypothetical line drawn from the right ASIS to the umbilicus)
What is Blumberg point?
Present in Acute Appendicitis
- Rebound tenderness especially in the RIF
What is Rovsing point?
Present in Acute Appendicitis
- RLQ pain elicited on deep palpation of the LLQ
What is Psoas point?
Present in Acute Appendicitis
- RLQ pain elicited on flexion of right hip against resistance
What is Obturator point?
Present in Acute Appendicitis
- RLQ pain on passive internal rotation of the hip with hip & knee flexion
What investigations are recommended in suspected acute appendicitis (7)?
- Bloods
- FBC
- CRP
- Urinalysis
- Electrolytes
- Imaging
- CT
- USS
- MRI
-
Diagnostic Laparoscopy
- In persistent pain & inconclusive imaging
What blood abnormalities would one expect in a suspected acute appendicitis (4)?
- FBC: neutrophilic leukocytosis
- Increased CRP
- Urinalysis: possible mild pyuria / haematuria
- Electrolyte imbalances in profound vomiting
What are the indications for each imaging used in a suspected acute appendicitis?
CT / USS / MRI
- CT: gold standard in adults esp. if age > 50
- USS: children / pregnancy / breastfeeding
- MRI: in pregnancy if USS inconclusive
What are the alvarado score requirements (8)?
- RLQ tenderness - 2
- Fever ( > 37.3 °C) - 1
- Rebound tenderness - 1
- Pain migration - 1
- Anorexia - 1
- Nausea+/- vomiting - 1
- WCC > 10.000 - 2
- Neutrophilia (Left shift 75%) - 1
What does the alvarado score indicate?
- ≤ 4 Unlikely appendicitis
- 5 - 6 Possible appendicitis
- ≥ 7 Likely appendicitis