GI Flashcards
What is psuedomembranous colitis
What abx are associated with it
Blood results
Severe inflammation of the colon usually due to overgrowth of C Diff
Clindamycin
Penicillins
Cephalosporins
Leukocytosis
Complications of pseudomembranous colitis
Paralytic ileus
Perf
Multi organ failure
Sx of pseudomembranous colitis
Diarrhoea - may be mucusy or bloody, can be up to 15 times a day
Fever
Abdo pain
Dehydration
Hx of abx
Medical/organic causes of diarrhoea (non GI system)
Hyperthyroidism
Pancreatic insufficiency
Causes of acute diarrhoea
Abx
Gastroenteritis - adeno,rhino,enterovirus
Definition of chronic diarrhoea
4 weeks
> or = 3 stools per day
Ix for pseudomembranous colitis
FBC - raised WCC
CRP
Stool culture
Abdo xray
Consider sigmoidoscopy
Rx of pseudomembranous colitis - general, non-severe, severe, toxic megacolon
Stop causative abx
Avoid antidiarrhoeals and opiates
Side room
1st line non severe - metronidazole
1st line severe - oral vancomycin if fails to improve add IV metronidazole
Toxic megacolon - urgent colectomy
Define constipation
Less than 3x week
Or
Less often than normal with difficulty straining
Causes of constipation
OPENED IT
Obstruction - mechanical (hernia, adhesions, ca)
Pain - anal fissures
Endocrine - hypothyroid, hypocalcium, hypopitassium
Neuro - MS, CES
Elderly
Diet/dehydration
IBS
Toxins - opioids
Causes of chronic diarrhoea
IBD
Coeliacs
Rx of constipation
Treat underlying cause
Diet and lifestyle advice - fibre (lentils, beans, veg) and hydration
Can give laxatives, PR if impacted
Types of laxatives, examples and MOA
Osmotic - lactulose, draw fluid into gut
Stimulant - senna. Bisacodyl, sodium picosulfate : induce peristalisis
Bulk forming - ispaghula : indigestible so stay in bowel to bulk stool and induce peristalsis
Example of a stool softener
Docusate sodium
Example of a suppository
Glycerol (stimulant laxative)
What is used for an enema
Phosphate enema
Medical rx of IBS
Antispasmodics - buscopan, mebeverine
Loperamide for diarrhoea
Lifestyle - reduce caffeine, stay hydrated
Dx of the dysphagia if:
Liquids and solids
Solids>liquids
Difficulty making swallowing
Odynophagia
Neck bulges or gurgles
Motility disorder
Stricture
Bulbar palsy
Ca, oesophageal ulcer, spasm
Pharyngeal pouch
How long before an OGD do you need to stop PPIs
2 weeks
Pathophys of achalasia
Degeneration if myenteric plexus causes LOS to not relax
Achalasia presentation
Dysphagia - both liquid and solid
Regurge
Weight loss
Arching if neck/standing sitting up straight
Complication of achalasia
Oesophageal Ca
Sign on barium swallow for achalasia
Bird beak sign
Rx of achalasia
Surgical cardiomyotomy
Can also do botox or medical rx with CCBs or nitrates
How does diffuse oesophageal spasm present
Intermittent dysphagia with chest pain
Red flags with dyspepsia
ALARMS
Anaemia/bleeding
Loss of weight
Anorexia
Recent onset and progressive
Maleana or haematemesis
Swallowing difficulty
Rx of dyspepsia if >60 or ALARMS
OGD 2ww
Rx of dyspepsia is no alarming criteria and <60
Conservative and then ix if continues
Stop NSAiDs/CCBs,
Stop smoking
Stop alcohol
Modify diet
Weight loss
Try anatacids.
Do breath test and stool sample for H Pylori
H Pylori triple therapy
7 days of PPI, Amoxicillin and clarithro
Or metronidazole if pen allergy
ADRs of PPIs
Hyponatramia
Osteoporosis
Increased risk of C Diff
Microscopic colitis
Risk factors for PUD
Alcohol
Smoking
H Pylori
NSaids
Steroids
Bisophosphonates
Ix for PUD
H pylori breath testing C12
OGD
Bloods
Gastrin if ZE suspected
What is the Glasgow blatchford score used for
Predict the need to treat pts with upper gi bleeds
Presentation of GORD
Halitosis
Chrinic cough
Burning related to meals, lying down
Burping
Surgery used for severe GORD
Nissen fundoplication
Types of hiatus hernia, which one is worse
Sliding
Rolling - can become strangulated
What is diagnostic ix for hiatus hernia
Ba Swallow
CXR - will show has bubble and fluid level in chest cavity
Ddx for haematemesis VINTAGE
Varices
Inflammation
Neoplasia
Trauma eg MW, boerhaaves
Angiodysplasia
General eg warfarin
Epistaxis
If urea is raised but creatinine is normal what blood test should you check and why
Hb for upper gi bleed
What is the rockall score
Predicts risk of re bleeding in upper GI bleed
What dx does coffee ground vomit suggest
PUD
Immediate rx of upper GI bleed
Resuscitation
Consider terlipressin (variceal)
Urgent endoscopy
What meds must you give in/after urgent OGD for upper GI bleed
What else should you do (ie what info is important for nurses)
Adrenaline
Antibiotics
Offer vit k
Keep NBM for 24hrs
Causes of prehepatic jaundice
Excess biliruben production - haemolytic anaemia
Or ineffecive erythropoeisis eg SCD, G6PD, thalassaemia
Causes of hepatic jaundice
Drugs - rifampicin, isoniazid, ethmbutol
Hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Congenital causes - haemochromatosis, wilsons, a1ATD
Autoimmune
Alcohol
Infectious - cmv, ebv, hep abc
Post hepatic causes
Cholestasis
Pancreatic cancer
Biliary atresia
Signs of liver failure
Jaundice
Oedema and ascitis
Encephalopathy
Signs of portal hypertension in cirrhosis
Pathophys of hepatorenal syndrome
Cirrhosis - release of mediators causing splanchnic artery vasodilation, reduces vascular resistance - RAAS activation - renal artery vasoconstriction
Persistent hypoperfusion - failure
Rx of hepatorenal syndrome
IV albumin
Spanchnic vasoconstrictor - terlipressin
Haemodialysis
Liver transplant
Rx if liver failure
Rx of underlying cause
Good nutrition - NGT
Thiamine supplements
Complications of liver failure
Bleeding
Sepsis
Ascites
Hypoglycaemia
Encephalopathy - seizures, cerebral oedema
Drug for cerebral oedema
Mannitol
Drug for ascites
Spiro
Drugs to avoid in liver failure
Opiates
Hypoglycaemics
Na containing IVI
Caution - warfarin
Hepatotoxic drugs - paracetamol, methotrexate, isoniazid, tetracyclines
Signs of cirrhosis in hands
Hepatic flap
Duputyrons
Spider naevi
Leuconychia
Clubbing
Palmar erythema
Causes of cirrhosis
Alcohol excess
Chronic HepC
NASH/NAFLD
hepB
a1AT
wilsons
haemochromatosis
What ix suggest that cirrhosis is caused by:
- alcohol
- NAFLD
- infection
- genetics
- increased MCV, increased GGT
- hyperlipidaemia, increased glucose
- serology positive
- genetic stuff
What imaging is used for cirrhosis
US liver
Complications of cirrhosis
SBP
Portal htn and varices
Wernickes encephalopathy and korsakoff psychosis