GI Flashcards
how do you calculate BMI
and what is healthy?
kg/m^2
18.5-25
dysphagia - if difficulty swallowing solids AND liquids, what are the differentials?
MOTILITY
achalasia
diffuse oesoph spasm
CNS e.g. parkinsons
dysphagia - if difficulty swallowing solids 1st, THEN liquids, what are the differentials?
STRICTURE
CA - pharangeal, gastric, oesoph
external - lung CA, mediastinal lymph nodes
benign stricture
dysphagia - difficult to initiate swallowing action. Diagnosis
bulbar palsy
dysphagia Ix
bloods - U&E (dehydration), FBC (anaemia)
upper GI endoscopy +/- biopsy
(contrast swallow)
patient reports dysphagia, regurg, weight loss.
contrast swallow shows dilated tapering oesophagus, loss of coordinated peristalsis. Lower oesoph sphincter doesnt relax. Diagnosis
achalasia
patients reports dysphagia and chest pain. contrast swallow shows abnormal contractions. Diagnosis
diffuse oesophageal spasm
mx of achalasia
endoscopic balloon dilatation + PPIs
vomiting that relieves pain. Likely diagnosis?
peptic ulcer
severe vomiting ABG might show?
metabolic alkalosis due to loss of stomach acid
antiemetics that act at D2 receptor
metoclopramide
domperidone
haloperidol
H1 receptor antiemetic
cyclizine
5HT3 receptor antiemetic
ondansetron
Mx of h.pylori infection
lansoprazole + clarithromycin + amoxicillin or metro
complications of prolonged GORD
oesophagitis barretts / CA benign oesophageal stricture ulcers iron def
causes of GORD
oesophagal dysmotility (systemic sclerosis) hiatus hernia obesity gastric acid hypersecretion delayed gastric emptying smoking, alcohol pregnancy drugs (anticholinergics, nitrates, tricyclics)
Signs and Sx of upper GI bleed
haematemesis
melaena
tachy, low BP
common causes of upper GI bleed
CA oesoph varices (liver disease/portal HTN) peptic ulcer NSAIDs/ anticoags mallory-weiss tear gastritis/ oesophagitis
acute Mx of upper GI bleed
ABC cannula, take bloods - FBC, U&E, crossmatch, clotting fluids, transfuse catheter ABG ?clotting - vit K emergency endoscopy/ surgery
causes of bloody diarrhoea
UC/crohns
colorectal CA
campylobacter/salmonella/shigella/E.coli
colon polyp
diarrhoea Ix
bloods - FBC, CRP, U+E (low K+ in severe), TFT, coeliac serology
stool culture
endoscopy
why avoid loperamide / codeine in colitis?
may precipitate toxic megacolon
tx of C.diff
stop causative Abx if poss metronidazole 400mg 10-14d in mild vancomycin 125mg in severe AXR for toxic megacolon faecal transplantation spread prevention
constipation + menorrhagia could indicate what endocrine abnormality?
hypothyroidism
constipation with abdo distension & active bowel sounds could indicate what?
bowel obstruction / stricture
describe the pathology and site of UC
relapsing and remitting inflammation of the colonic mucosa, not deeper, and never past ileocaecal valve, involves rectum and above/non patchy
sx of UC
diarrhoea, episodic OR chronic, with blood and mucus abdo cramps bowel frequency urgency fever anorexia weight loss malaise
examination signs of UC
clubbing episcleritis, conjunctivitis, erythema nodosum mouth ulcers arthritis
Ixs in UC
bloods: FBC, CRP, ESR blood culture stool MC+S, C diff toxin faecal calprotectin AXR lower GI endoscopy
AXR findings in UC
mucosal thickening
colonic dilatation: toxic megacolon
UC complications
toxic megacolon
perf
VTE
colon CA
Mx of UC
mesalazine PO/PR (a 5-ASA) pred enema PO pred immunomodulation w/ azathioprine infliximab
severe flare: IV fluids, IV hydrocort/methylpred, hydrocort enema, VTE prophylaxis, stool culture > ?Abx
rescue therapy: cyclosporin/ infliximab
COLECTOMY
causes of erythema nodosum
UC/crohns sarcoid strep TB drugs
describe the imflammation of crohns
transmural
granulomatous
mouth to anus
skip lesions [unaffected bowel in between]
crohns Sx
abdo pain diarrhoea anorexia malaise, fatigue fever weight loss/ failure to thrive
non GI signs and sx of crohns
clubbing
arthritis
erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum
conjunctivitis/episcleritis/iritis
crohns complications
small bowel obstruction toxic dilatation [more common in UC] abscess fistula perforation colon CA primary sclerosing cholangitis malnutrition
crohns Ixs
FBC, haematinics stool MC+S w/ C.diff toxin faecal calprotectin colonoscopy and biopsy/ capsule endosc MRI
crohns Mx
pred
azathioprine [if relapse on steroid taper]
infliximab
exclude infection
VTE proph
?transfuse
surgery
[NO ROLE FOR 5-ASAs]
what is short bowel syndrome
malabsorption due to small bowel resection causing various metabolic disturbances
what factors may indicate a poor prognnosis in crohns disease?
steroids needed at 1st presentation <40 yrs perianal disease isolated terminal ileitis smoking
what gene serotype is linked to coeliac
HLA DQ2
skin condition ass. w/ coeliac
dermatitis herpetiformis
Sx of coeliac
smelly diarrhoea/steatorrhoea abdo pain, bloating weight loss N+V aphthous ulcers, angular stomatitis fatigue
investigation findings in the diagnosis of coeliac
anaemia
low ferritin, B12
^anti-transglutaminase
duodenal biopsy: villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia, ^intraepithelial WBCs
coeliac Mx
lifelong gluten free diet
complications/associations of coeliac
osteomalacia/osteoporosis dermatitis herpetiformis anaemia hyposplenism GI T cell lymphoma ^CA risk (lymphoma, gastric, oesophageal, colorectal) neuropathies
common causes of GI malabsorption on the UK
coeliac
chronic pancreatitis
crohns
pancreatitis Sx
epigastric pain radiating to back
bloating
steatorrhoea
causes of pancreatitis
I GET SMASHED Idiopathic Gallstones Ethanol Trauma Steroids Malignancy/Mumps Autoimmune Scorpion venom Hypercholesterolaemia/ Hypercalc ERCP Drugs [azathiop, oestrogens]
what can be seen on US or CT pancreas that confirm chronic pancreatitis?
pancreatic calcifications
ixs for chronic pancreatitis
US CT MRCP (MR cholangiopancreatography) AXR faecal elastase
mX CHRONIC pancreatitis
analgesia lipase fat soluble vitamins insulin no alcohol (low fat diet) surgery (pancreatectomy/ duct drainage procedure)
complications of pancreatitis
pseudocyst diabetes biliary obstruction local artery aneurysm splenic vein thromb gastric varices pancreatic carcinoma
risk factors for pancreatic CA
male >70 yrs smoking alcohol chronic pancreatitis central obesity DM
presentation of pancreatic CA
epigastric pain radiates to back relived by sitting forward obstructive jaundice weight loss DM acute pancreatitis
rarer:
thrombophlebitis migrans
hypercalc
portal HTN [splenic vein thromb]
examination signs of pancreatic CA
jaundice painless palpable gallbladder epigastric mass splenomegaly (portal vein ob) hepatomegaly (mets) lymphadenopthy ascites
why might a pancreatic CA pt get nephrosis
renal vein mets
ix in pancreatic ca
LFT CA 19-9 US/CT [mass/dilated biliary tree/liver mets] biopsy ERCP/MRCP endoccopic US
Mx pancreatic ca
surgery [whipples/tail resection] chemo palliative: stent for jaundice/anorexia analgesia radio
causes of unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia (jaundice)
haemolysis
impaired hepatic uptake: drugs, ischaemic hepatitis
impaired conjugation: Gilbert’s
neonatal
which type of jaundice causes dark urine and pale stool? and why?
conjugated
conjugated bilirubin is water soluble so is excreted in the urine. Less enters gut which leaves faeces pale.
causes of conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia (jaundice)
hepatocellular dysfn. : viruses, drugs, alcohol, cirrhosis, liver mets, abscess, haemochrom, autoimmune, sepsis etc.
impaired excretion/ cholestasis: CBD stones, primary biliary/schlerosing cholangitis, pancreatic CA, drugs, cholangiocarcinoma
on examination of a patient with painless jaundice, what does a palpable gallbladder indicate?
GB or pancreatic CA, NOT stones - stones lead to a fibrotic and inexpandable gallbladder
looking at a patient’s urine bilirubin and urobilinogen, how would you distinguish between pre-hepatic and obstructive jaundice?
pre-hepatic : bilirubin absent
obstructive: urobilinogen absent
bloods in jaundice
LFT FBC clotting blood film coombs test haptoglobins malaria parasites ebv U+E PCM levels blood cultures hepatitis serology
what imaging technique in a jaundiced Pt? and what are you looking for?
US: gallstones, liver mets, pancreas mass
ERCP/MRCP [CBD stones.. etc]
complications of ECRP
pancreatitis
bleeding
cholangitis
perforation
bilirubin is conjugated by the liver . Conjugate bili is secreted in bile and passes into gut. some is taken up by the liver again, and the rest is converted into what by gut bacteria?
urobilinogen
give 4 examples of drugs that can induce jaundice
PCM overdose steroids statins sulfonylurea [Glibenclamide, gliclazide] valproate co-amox, fluclox, nitrofurantoin MOAIs isoniazid/rifampicin/pyrazinamole
what is fulminant hepatic failure
massive necrosis of liver cells > severe liver fn. impairemnt
name 5 causes of liver failure
infection - viral hep
drugs - PCM overdose
vascular - Budd-chiari, veno-occlusive disease
alcohol
NAFLD
primary biliary/ sclerosing cholangitis
haemochromatosis, wilsons
autoimmune hepatitis, alpha1-antitrypsin def
malignancy
investigations in liver failure - bloods
FBC U+E LFT clotting glucose PCM level hepatitis/ CMV/EBV serology ferritin alpha 1 antitrypsin Ceruloplasmin [stores and carries copper] autoantibodies
investigations in liver failure - imgaging
CXR, abdo US, portal/hepatic vein doppler
Mx of a patient in acute liver failure
ABCDE 10% dextrose (avoid hypo) treat the cause phenytoin for seizures (HD if renal failure)
what major compliactions should you be aware of in a patient in liver failure
bleeds! [GI/varices]
sepsis
hypoglycaemia
encephalopathy
Mx of cerebral oedema in liver failure
ITU
mannitol
hyperventilate
Mx of ascites in liver failure or cirrhosis
fluid restrict low salt diet diuretics (spiro, then furos) [paracentesis] [albumin infusion]
Mx of bleeding in liver failure
vit K platelets FFP [blood] [endoscopy]
Mx of encephalopathy in liver failure
ITU lactulose (traps NH3 in the colon) rifaximin (Abx, reduce nitrogen-forming bacteria) correct electrolytes head-up tilt
drugs to avoid in liver failure
constipating (^risk of encephalopathy)
hypoglycaemics
saline (ascites risk)
warfarin (^ed effect)
hepatotoxic: PCM, methotrex, isoniazid, azathioprine, oestrogen etc
what is the pathology behind hepatic encephalopathy?
nitrogeous waste e.g. ammonia builds up. Enter brain, causing osmotic imbalance →cerebral oedema