GI Flashcards
Describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of hiatal hernias.
- present with heartburn, chest pain, and dysphagia; very similar to GERD
- the diagnosis is made with a barium study or endoscopy
- best initial therapy is weight loss and a PPI followed by surgical correction
What alarm systems are indications for endoscopy in those with esophageal dysfunction?
if weight loss, anemia, or heme-positive stool are present, endoscopy should be performed to exclude cancer
Describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of achalasia.
- presents in younger patients as progressive dysphagia for both solids and liquids
- barium esophagram is the best initial test and will show a “bird’s beak” but manometry is the most accurate
- treat with pneumatic dilation, myotomy, or repeated botox injection
Describe the risk factors, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of esophageal carcinoma.
- GERD and Barrett esophagus are risk factors for adenocarcinoma while irritation as from alcohol and tobacco are major risk factors for squamous cell
- both present with progressive dysphagia first for solids and later for liquids; squamous cell is more likely to be invasive and produce cough or hoarseness
- barium esophagram may be an appropriate first test, but diagnosis requires biopsy; CT and MRI are used for staging
- treat with surgical resection when possible and add chemotherapy or radiation; stent placement can be palliative in cases where resection isn’t possible
What is the difference between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus?
- adenocarcinoma refers to a proliferation of glands, and arises from pre-existing Barrett esophagus in the lower third of the esophagus
- squamous cell carcinoma arises in the upper and middle thirds of the esophagus in response to irritation; risk factors include alcohol, tobacco, very hot tea, achalasia, esophageal web, and esophageal injury
- furthermore, squamous cell is more invasive and more likely to involve the recurrent laryngeal nerve or trachea, producing hoarseness and cough
Describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of esophageal spasm.
- presents with sudden onset chest pain unrelated to exertion which may be confused with ACS but will be accompanied by a normal ECG and stress test
- the only abnormality and method for diagnosis is manometry
- first line treatment uses a CCB or nitrate alongside a PPI
- move to TCAs or sildenafil as second-line agents
Describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.
- presents with dysphagia, food impaction, and heartburn, typically in a patient with a history of atopy
- endoscopy will show multiple concentric rings but diagnosis requires biopsy finding eosinophils
- treat with PPIs and trigger avoidance; can swallow steroid inhalers if PPIs are ineffective
How is dysphagia managed in those with AIDS?
- dysphagia in patients with CD4 less than 100 is usually caused by esophageal candidiasis
- so we start with empiric oral fluconazole
- if patients fail to improve, an endoscopy is performed
- if large ulcerations are found, indicative of CMV esophagitis, ganciclovir is started; if small ulcerations are found, indicative of herpes esophagitis, acyclovir is started
Describe the pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a Schatzki ring.
- this is a distal esophageal stricture related to acid reflux
- presents with intermittent dysphagia for solid foods
- diagnosis is with barium esophagram
- treat with endoscopic pneumatic dilation
Describe the pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of esophageal webs.
- this is a thin protrusion of the esophageal mucosa into the lumen of the upper esophagus associated with iron deficiency
- presents with dysphagia for solid foods
- diagnosis is with barium esophagram
- treat with iron replacement first and then pneumatic dilation if the obstruction fails to resolve
What are the features of Plummer-Vinson syndrome?
- iron deficiency anemia
- esophageal web
- beefy-red tongue due to atrophic glossitis
Describe the pathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of Zenker diverticulum.
- a false diverticulum caused by dysmotility which results in herniation of the esophageal mucosa through posterior pharyngeal constrictor muscles
- presents with dysphagia, halitosis, a neck mass, and regurgitation of food particles
- it is diagnosed with barium esophagram
- treatment is surgical
How is the esophageal dysfunction of scleroderma diagnosed and treated?
- manometry is used for diagnosis and will show decreased LES tone
- treatment is with PPIs
How is a Mallory-Weiss tear managed?
- in most cases it is managed expectantly
- however, for persistent bleeding, epinephrine or electrocautery can be used
Describe the presentation and treatment of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
- presents with recurrent nausea, vomiting, and crampy abdominal pain which is relieved by a hot shower
- management involves cessation of cannabis use and antiemetics
What is the most common cause of epigastric pain?
non-ulcer dyspepsia
What is the most likely diagnosis for epigastric pain with the following associated features:
- worse with food
- better with food
- weight loss
- tenderness
- persistent cough
- history of diabetes and bloating
- no additional features
- worse with food: gastric ulcer
- better with food: duodenal ulcer
- weight loss: cancer or gastric ulcer
- tenderness: pancreatitis
- persistent cough: GERD
- history of diabetes and bloating: gastroparesis
- no additional features: non-ulcer dyspepsia
Describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of GERD.
- presents as a burning epigastric pain that radiates up into the chest is associated with cough, hoarseness, sore throat, or bad taste in the mouth
- it is usually a clinical diagnosis, but if unclear then 24-hour pH monitor is done to confirm
- perform an endoscopy in the case of weight loss, anemia, or heme-positive stool and after 5-10 years of symptoms to exclude Barrett esophagus
- treat with weight loss; avoidance of alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine; no eating within 3 hours of sleep; elevation of the head of the bed; and PPIs
How do we screen for and manage Barrett esophagus?
- patients with GERD should be screened after 5-10 years with endoscopy and biopsy
- if Barrett is found alone, rescoped every 2-3 years
- if low-grade dysplasia is also found, rescope every 6-12 months
- if high-grade dysplasia is also found, perform endoscopic ablation
Describe the pathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of gastritis.
- can be autoimmune or secondary to alcohol, NSAIDs, H. pylori, portal hypertension, and stress
- it typically presents as GI bleeding without pain
- diagnosis requires upper endoscopy and testing for H. pylori should be performed at that time
- treat with PPIs and eradication of H. pylori if present
What are four ways of testing for H. pylori?
- endoscopic biopsy is most accurate
- serology lacks specificity for active disease
- urea breath testing is expensive
- stool antigen testing
What are the key differences between duodenal and gastric ulcers?
- the two cannot be differentiated without upper endoscopy; however, there are key differences
- duodenal more often improve with eating while gastric worsening with eating and are thus associated with weight loss
- a great portion of duodenal ulcers are associated with H. pylori while a greater proportion of gastric ulcers are malignant
Describe the most common etiologies, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of gastric ulcers.
- the most common cause is H. pylori followed by NSAIDs
- presents with recurrent, dull, gnawing epigastric pain which is worse with eating and is sometimes accompanied by GI bleeding and weight loss
- the only way to definitively make the diagnosis is with upper endoscopy, at which time H. pylori testing should be performed
- treat with PPIs and H. pylori eradication
- rescope patients if they fail to confirm healing or if patients fail to improve with medical management due to the risk of malignancy
Describe the most common etiologies, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of duodenal ulcers.
- the most common cause is H. pylori followed by NSAIDs
- presents with recurrent, dull, gnawing epigastric pain which improves with eating and is sometimes accompanied by GI bleeding
- the only definitive method for diagnosis is with upper endoscopy, at which time H. pylori testing should be performed
- treat with PPIs and H. pylori eradication
- switch to quadruple therapy if patients fail to improve and then a repeat upper endoscopy for continued symptoms
How is H. pylori treated?
- start with amoxicillin/metronidazole, clarithromycin, and a PPI
- if this fails to improve symptoms switch to quadruple therapy with metronidazole, tetracycline, a PPI, and bismuth
How are refractory ulcers managed?
- retest for H. pylori and switch to quadruple therapy if the organism hasn’t been eradicated
- repeat upper endoscopy for those with a gastric ulcer to exclude cancer as a reason for not improving
What does the differential diagnosis for dyspepsia include and how is it managed?
- could be caused by gastric or duodenal ulcers, non-ulcer dyspepsia, or gastritis
- for those under 45 without alarm symptoms, start empiric treatment with a PPI
- for those over 55 or who have alarm symptoms, perform an upper endoscopy
Describe the management of non-ulcer dyspepsia.
- for those under 45 without alarm symptoms, start empiric treatment; otherwise, first perform an upper endoscopy to rule out other causes
- for empiric treatment or after diagnosis is confirmed, start a PPI
- if symptoms fail to resolve and patients are positive for H. pylori, treat with triple therapy
Describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a gastrinoma.
- presents with ulcers that are large, recurrent, multiple, or distal to the duodenum
- upper endoscopy diagnoses the ulcers; then a gastrin level with high gastric acidity or persistent high gastrin levels following secretin injection confirms the gastrinoma
- CT or MRI are done to look for metastatic disease but are insensitive; follow negative results with a somatostatin receptor scintigraphy
- treat with surgical resection of location disease or PPIs for metastatic disease
Describe the pathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetic gastroparesis.
- autonomic neuropathy prevents the sense of stretch in the GI tract which causes dysmotility
- presents with chronic abdominal discomfort, bloating, and constipation in a long-term diabetic
- it is largely a clinical diagnosis, but if needed the best initial test is upper endoscopy or abdominal CT to rule out cancer and the most accurate is a nuclear gastric emptying study
- treat with a blenderized diet and either metoclopramide or erythromycin before trying gastric electrical stimulation
What is the most common cause of upper and lower GI bleeding?
- upper: ulcer disease
- lower: diverticulosis
How is orthostasis defined?
a more than 10 point rise in pulse or 20 point drop in systolic blood pressure
How is GI bleeding treated?
- fluid replacement
- pRBCs as needed
- FFP if INR is elevated
- platelets if count is less than 50K
- octreotide for variceal bleeding
- endoscopic intervention with banding, cautery, or epi
- IV PPI for upper bleeds
- surgical resection if all else fails
What is used for the acute management and for prophylaxis of variceal bleeding?
- octreotide is used acutely
- propanolol is used prophylactically