GI Flashcards
Position of patient
General exam: sat upright
Close exam: supine
General Inspection
Bedside treatment Patients appearance Body habitus (obese etc.) Scars Jaundice Anaemia Abdo distention Masses Dressings Needle track marks Excoriations
Jaundice indicates..
cirrhosis/hepatitis
Anaemia indicates..
pallor > GI bleeding
Abdo distention indicates..
ascites/bowel obstruction/large masses
Masses indicate..
malignancy / organomegaly
Excoriations indicate..
pruritus, which is a sign of cholestasis
Signs on hands
clubbing koilonychia leukonychia palmar erythema Dupuytren's contracture Hepatic flap
Clubbing indicates..
IBD, cirrhosis, coeliac disease
Koilonychia indicates..
spooning of nails > chronic iron deficiency
leukonychia indicates..
whitened nail bed > hypoalbuminemia (liver failure)
palmar erythema indicates..
reddening of palms > liver disease, pregnancy
Dupuytren’s contracture indicates..
thickening of palmar fascia > alcohol excess, or family history
Hepatic flap
hold hands dorsiflexed for 15 seconds
+ve test= hands will flap irregularly
Causes= hepatic encephalopathy, uraemia, CO2 retention
Signs on arms and what they represent
Bruising: abnormal coagulation, secondary to liver failure
Petechiae: low platelets e.g. splenomegaly
Excoriations: cholestasis
Track marks: IV drug use > hepatitis/HIV
Signs in axillae and what they represent
Lymphadenopathy: malignancy/infection
Hair loss: malnourishment / iron deficiency anaemia
Acanthosis nigricans: GI adenocarcinoma / obesity
Signs in eyes
Jaundice
Conjunctival pallor
Xanthelasma
What does jaundice suggest?
haemolysis, hepatitis, cirrhosis, biliary obstruction
Conjunctival pallor
anaemia