GI

Question 1

what are common s/s of GI disease

Answer 1

nausea
vomitting
diarrhea
constipation
dysphagia
achalasia
heartburn
abdominal pain
fecal incontinence

Question 2

what causes nausea / vomitting

Answer 2

nausea - irritated nerve endings in the stomach

vom - anything that precipitates nausea

Question 3

what is achalasia

Answer 3

failure to relax the smooth muscle fibers of the GI tract

Question 4

how is GI bleeding characterized? what are the names of these?

Answer 4

location of the lesion
- coffee ground emesis (upper)
- hematemesis (upper)
- melena (upper)
- hematochezia (lower)

Question 5

what is a hiatal hernia

Answer 5

when the cardiac / lower esophageal sphincter becomes enlarged and allows the stomach contents to pass through the diaphragm

Question 6

what causes hiatal hernias

Answer 6

anything that weakens the diaphragm muscle
increases to intraabdominal pressure

Question 7

what is barrett’s esophagus

Answer 7

damaged esophagus heals abnormally so that the lining develops a type of cell normally found in the intestine

Question 8

how is barrett’s esophagus treated

Answer 8

proton pump inhibitors that suppress acid production

antacids

histamine blockers that prevent acid secretion

water between meals

Question 9

what is a Tracheoesophageal fistula

Answer 9

esophageal anomaly, one of the most common congenital defects

esophagus fails to develop as a continuous passage and there is abnormal communication between the lower portion of the esophagus and trachea

Question 10

what are s/s of Tracheoesophageal fistula

Answer 10

excessive drooling and occasional aspiration

Question 11

what disorders are characterized as Malabsorption syndrome

Answer 11

celiac disease
cystic fibrosis
crohn’s disease
chronic pancreatitis
pancreatic carcinoma
pernicious anemia
short-gut syndrome

Question 12

who is most commonly affected by malabsorption syndromes

Answer 12

women report around 70% of cases
especially those of European descent

Question 13

what is the bacteria responsible for “food poisoning”

Answer 13

clostridium botulinum

Question 14

how is food poisoning treated

Answer 14

antitoxins that prevent further binding of the free botulinum toxin to presynaptic endings

Question 15

What 2 conditions are classified as Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Answer 15

chron’s disease
ulcerative colitis

Question 16

what is diverticulosis

Answer 16

presence of outpouchings in the wall of the colon or small intestine

Question 17

what is diverticulitis

Answer 17

diseases complicated by inflammation

Question 18

what is the most common site for a hernia to occur in the GI system?

Answer 18

inguinal / sports hernia

Question 19

what are aggravating factors for inguinal hernias

Answer 19

sudden movements and those that stretch/stress the abdominal muscles

Question 20

what are the s/s of appendicitis

Answer 20

abdominal pain accompanied with anorexia, n/v and low-grade fever

Question 21

how can we test for appendicitis in the clinic

Answer 21

point/spot tenderness over McBurney’s point (to the right of the belly button)
pinch an inch test (positive)

Question 22

how do the different inflammatory bowel diseases present

Answer 22

where they originate

ulcerative colitis - only in the colon

chron’s - mouth, anus, intestine