GI Flashcards
Define digestion, absorption, and deglutition
Digestion - physical and chemical breakdown of food into absorbable substances
Absorption - transfer of end products of digestion across the intestinal wall to circulation, involves villi
Deglutition - swallowing, mechanical
How does the pharynx assist in swallowing?
secretes mucous which aids in swallowing
What does the epiglottis cover during swallowing?
The larynx
The LES remains contracted except during?
Swallowing, belching, and vomiting
Where does digestion begin?
The mouth
What is the role of the stomach in digestion?
It stores food, secretes digestive juices, and empties the chyme into the small intestine
Which macronutrient(s) is primarily digested in the stomach? What is required?
Protein digestion begins and the digestion of starches and fats is minimal
Pepsinogen is transferred into pepsin
Where is digestion completed? What three things are necessary in the GI tract to complete digestion?
Digestion is completed in the small intestine
- Enzymes from the pancreas
- Bile from the liver
- intestinal secretions and alkaline pancreatic secretions
How do alkaline pancreatic secretions assist in digestion?
They neutralize the acidity of the chyme
Where is the predominant region for water and electrolyte absorption in the GI tract?
The large intestine
What 5 things are feces made up of?
- Water
- Bacteria
- Food residue
- Unabsorbed GI secretions
- Desquamated epithelial cells
What is the valsalva maneuver?
Contraction of the chest muscles, closed glottis, and contracted abdominal muscles that increases intra-abdominal pressure
Which patients are we most concerned with in regard to the valsalva manuever
Cardiac and head trauma
What organ metabolizes RBCs and in turn creates bilirubin:?
The liver
What organ is both an endocrine and exocrine gland?
Pancreas
What is xerostomia?
Dry mouth/decreased saliva production
What is hypochlorhydria?
Decreased HCl secretions
Where is the appetite centre of the brain located?
Hypothalamus
What are 4 factors that may affect appetite?
Hypoglycemia, empty stomach, decrease in body temp, and input from higher brain centres
What is H. pylori? Where is it typically present?
H. pylori is bad bacteria that may cause infection and damage the GI tract, specifically the upper GI (stomach and small intestine)
Describe an ALT, ALP, AST, and GGT
o ALT – elevated in liver damage and inflammation
o ALP – elevated when excretion is impaired as a result of an obstruction in the biliary tract
o AST – elevated in liver damage and inflammation
o GGT – elevated in hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease
Bilirubin is?
the product of old RBC breakdown
What is amylase? Where is it secreted from? It is important in diagnosing?
Digestive protein, excreted from the pancreas, will identify acute pancreatitis
Where is lipase excreted from?
The pancreas
What is an occult blood sample/match book? How many samples does it require?
Testing for red blood cells in the GI tract
3 samples of stool - want to see across a period of days
What diagnostic test/blood test will identify H. pylori?
culture and sensitivity
What is the difference between a gastroscopy and colonoscopy?
gastroscopy - scope of the entire stomach
colonoscopy - scope of the entire colon
What is an ERCP? What is one thing you must be aware of prior to sending the patient for this test?
A scope inserted down the esophagus that views the back of the liver and pancreas
It uses contrast medium - must be careful of allergies to shellfish
What is a barium swallow? What is the difference between an upper and lower?
Using barium as a contrast medium to see the movement of the solution through the GI tract after being swallowed
Upper - determines dysphagia/swallow process
Lower - out pouches in the small intestine
Define GERD
GERD is a syndrome, not a disease
Reflux of gastric acid contents into the lower esophagus
What is the primary cause of GERD?
There is no single cause, it occurs when the defences of the lower esophagus are overwhelmed by the reflux of stomach acid
What are six potential causes of GERD? Briefly define each
- Hiatal hernia - out pouch of the stomach into the abdominal cavity, area of increased pressure
- Incompetent LES
- Decreased esophageal clearance - inability to clear liquids/food from esophagus into stomach
- impaired esophageal motility
- decreased gastric emptying
- certain foods and medications
Does inflammation occur with GERD?
Yes
What are five clinical manifestations of GERD?
- Pyrosis - heart burn
- Resp. symptoms - wheezing, coughing, dyspnea
- Otolaryngological symptoms - hoarseness, sore throat, and globus sensation
- Regurgitation - small amounts of throw up
- gastric symptoms - early satiety, bloating, nausea, vomiting
What are 7 complications of GERD?
- esophagitis
- scar tissue formation
- Barrett’s esophagus
- bronchospasms
- laryngospasms
- cricopharyngeal spasm
- dental erosion
What is the most concerning complication of GERD?
Barrett’s esophagus - type of cancer that results from GERD
What are four diagnostic studies that would be appropriate for GERD?
- Barium swallow
- Endoscopy
- Biopsy
- Cytology
What are three lifestyle modifications that could be useful for GERD
- Avoidance of triggers (diet/medications)
- weight loss
- smoking cessation
What specific dietary/food choices are imperative for GERD?
Avoid fatty foods, chocolate, peppermint, caffeinated beverages, milk
What 3 nutritional behaviours are important for GERD management?
- small, frequent meals
- avoid late evening meals
- fluids taken between meals
What are the four generic goals of medication therapy for GERD?
Focus is to improve LES function, increase esophageal clearance, decrease the volume and acidity of reflux, and protect esophageal reflux
What are cryotherapy and ablation therapy for GERD?
Cryo - uses cold to scar and kill the tissue
Ablation - uses heat to scar and kill the tissue
Define peptic ulcer disease
Erosion of the GI mucosa from digestive action of HCl acid and pepsin - it can be acute or chronic
What are the three characteristics of acute PUD?
- Superficial and minimal inflammation
- short duration
- resolves quickly once cause is identified and removed
What are the two characteristics of chronic PUD
- long duration
- erode through muscular wall, fibrous tissue forms (scar tissue – area of the stomach that is prone to weakness)
Which type of PUD is 4 times more common than the other?
Chronic
What two medical interventions do we need to be cautious of to the exacerbation of ulcers?
NSAIDs may cause the formation of an ulcer
NG tubes
What is auto digestion? What can it cause? What is the body’s protective mechanism against it?
Stomach begins to eat itself - this may cause an ulcer
Protected from this by the gastric mucosal barrier
How does increased blood flow increase risk of PUD?
It increases the congestion in the stomach
Where are gastric ulcers typically located?
Found on the lesser curvature of the stomach
What is the least common type of ulcer?
Gastric
What type of ulcer is more prevalent in women?
Gastric
Which type of ulcer has the greatest mortality rate? Why?
Gastric ulcers - due to them effecting older individuals more often than other ulcers
What are the six causes of a gastric ulcer?
H. pylori, smoking, medications (i.e., NSAID, ASA, and corticosteroids), alcohol, chronic gastritis, bile reflux gastritis
What three types of medications can cause ulcers?
NSAIDs, ASA/aspirin, and corticosteroids
What type of ulcer makes up 80% of all ulcers
Duodenal
What type of ulcer effects men more than women?
Duodenal
What is the average age range of duodenal ulcers?
35-45 years
What type of secretions are duodenal ulcers associated with?
High HCl secretions
What is the cause of duodenal ulcers 90-95% of the time?
H. pylori
What causes stress-related mucosal disease? What type of illness is it?
Major physiological insult (trauma or surgery)
Type of erosive gastritis/ulcer
Are ulcers often accompanied by pain?
No, often have no pain or symptoms