GI Flashcards
Causes of RUQ pain related to the gall bladder
- Cholelithiasis
- Acute cholecystitis
- Acute cholangitis
- Biliary colic
- Sphincter of odi dysfunction
biliary colic symptoms
- biggest thing to remember is that is plateaus at an hour, worse in first 30 minutes. will have a benign abdominal exam
Acute cholecystitis symptoms?
Prolonged (>4 to 6 hours) RUQ or epigastric pain, fever. Patients will have abdominal guarding and Murphy’s sign
acute cholangitis symptoms
Fever, jaundice, RUQ pain
Hepatic causes of RUQ pain?
- Acute hepatitis
- Fitz-hugh syndrome
- portal vein thrombosis
- liver abscess
- budd-chiari syndrome
Acute hepatitis symptoms?
RUQ pain with fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia. Patients may also have jaundice, dark urine, and light-colored stools
Causes of epigastric pain?
- Acute MI
- acute pancreatitis
- chronic pancreatitis
- PUD
- GERD
- Gastritis
Causes of lower abdominal pain?
- Appendicitis
- Diverticulitis
- Nephrolithiasis
- pyelonephritis
- cystitis
A cbc for a patent with appendicitis will show what to support the diagnoses?
Neutrophilia
Imaging of choice for appendicitis?
ultrasound, CT if you have too
Labs for cholecystitis will show what?
elevated ALK-P, GGT, bilirubin and WBC
First imaging option for cholecystitis? if this is inconclusive then move on to what?
- Ultrasound
2. HIDA
An ultrasound suspicious of cholecystitis will show what?
- Gall bladder wall >3mm
- Pericholecystic fluid
- gallstones
Whats the gold standard for diagnosing choledocholithiasis?
ERCP and its therapeutic
A CT is an option for diagnosing gall bladder issues but it is more sensitive for what?
- Perforation
- Abscess
- Pancreatitis
What are some causes of acute hepatitis?
Viral hepatitides (e.g., HAV, HCV, and HBV) Parasites (e.g., toxoplasmosis) Alcohol Drug-induced (e.g., acetaminophen) Autoimmune hepatitis Steatohepatitis Metabolic disease
What are two things that in a question should make you suspicious for acute hepatitis?
- Recent travel
2. Sudden jaundice
If the ratio of AST:ALT >2 what should you suspect?
alcoholic hepatitis
With acute hepatitis not related to alcohol which is usually more elevated AST or ALT
ALT
What imaging would be a good first choice in someone suspected of acute hepatitis?
Ultrasound
A CBC in someone with viral acute hepatitis will show what in terms of WBC and lymphocytes?
- Elevated WBCs
2. Atypical lymphocytosis
Anti-HBc IgM Anti-HBc IgG HBsAg Anti-HBs Interpretation?
+ - + -
Acute Hep B infection
Anti-HBc IgM Anti-HBc IgG HBsAg Anti-HBs Interpretation?
- - + -
early acute HBV
Anti-HBc IgM (-) Anti-HBc IgG (+) HBsAg (-) Anti-HBs (+) Interpretation?
resolved acute HBV/ immune due to exposer
Anti-HBc IgM (-) Anti-HBc IgG (-) HBsAg (-) Anti-HBs (+) Interpretation?
immunity from vaccine
Anti-HBc IgM (-) Anti-HBc IgG (+) HBsAg (+) Anti-HBs (-) Interpretation ?
chronic HBV
Medication Tx for alcoholic hepatitis?
pentoxifylline and/or corticosteroids
When do you use antiviral therapy for hepatitis?
indicated for severe acute hep B
Common causes for acute pancreatitis?
mnemonic GET SMASHHED
- Gall stones
- ethanol
- trauma
- steroids
- Mumps
- scorpion sting
- hypercalcemia
- hyperlipidemia
- ERCP
- Drugs
Imaging of choice for diagnosing Pancreatitis
abdominal CT to make sure its not necrotic pancreatitis
What is the most sensitive diagnostic choice for chronic pancreatitis?
ERCP
What is a complication with pancreatitis?
pancreatic pseudocyst
What is the Tx for anorectal abscess?
surgical incision and drainage, stool softeners, high fiber diet
Tx for anorectal fistula
fistula must be treat surgically
signs that someone has an anal fissure
- tearing rectal pain when pooping
2. bright red blood on toilet paper
Tx for anal fissures? backup tx if first line fails?
- Sitz baths, increase dietary fiber, and water maybe a stool softener here and there (should heal in 6 weeks)
- botulinum toxin A if failed conservative therapy
What is the order in which symptoms for appendicitis flow.
- periumbilical pain
- nausea/vomiting
- anorexia
- right lower quadrant pain
What GI issues can anorexia be linked to?
- Gastric ulcer
- Duodenal ulcer
- Gastric cancer
- Lower GI bleed
- pancreatic carcinoma
- thyroid disease
What are the symptoms of gastric cancer?
use the mnemonic WEAPON
- weight loss
- emesis
- anorexia
- pain/epigastric
- obstruction
- nausea
If someone complains of epigastric pain a couple hours after eating which type of ulcer do they likely have?
duodenal ulcer
If you read “painless jaundice” what should you immediately think of?
pancreatic cancer
New onset of constipation in a pt over 50 should make you think of what?
colorectal cancer
A patient with DM II comes in complaining of abdominal pain and fullness after eating only small amounts of food. What could they have and what in their history points you in that direction?
Could be gastroparesis, their diabetes causes nerve damage and they could have damage to the vagus nerve which would explain their symptoms
What is charcots triad and what does it pertain to?
- RUQ pain, jaundice, fever
2. Applies to cholangitis
What is reynolds pentad? and what does this signify?
This is charcots triad so (RUQ pain, Jaundice, Fever) plus altered mental state and hypotension
guess it just signifies a worse case of cholangitis
What is your initial imaging of choice for cholangitis? what is the best?
- Ultrasound
2. ERCP
What is the tx for cholangitis?
- Acutely you need removal of stones (ERCP) , fluids, antibiotic (cipro and metro) and analgesics
- Once they are stable you remove the gall bladder
What is primary sclerosing cholangitis associated with?
- IBD
- pancreatic cancer
- colorectal cancer
- chlangiocarcinoma
How would you describe cirrhosis of the liver to a patient?
Can say it is when your liver tissue become fibrous and stiff along with having numerous nodules all of which effect its function.
Which lab value in cirrhosis is usually more elevated AST or ALT?
AST
What lab should be monitored in patients with cirrhosis because of their increased chance for hepatic carcinoma?
AFP
these pts have a 10-25% greater chance of getting cancer
What is the most common cause of cirrhosis? what is the second most common cause?
- Alcohol
2. Hep B and C