GI Flashcards
When might an abdominal XR be indicated on a child?
- Abdominal distension e.g. obstruction.
- Abdominal pain of unknown cause.
- Constipation.
Give 3 gastrointestinal causes of abdominal pain.
- IBS.
- Constipation.
- Gastritis.
- Peptic ulcer.
- Malrotation.
- Appendicitis.
- IBD.
- Abdominal migraine.
Give 3 gynaecological causes of abdominal pain.
- Dysmenorrhoea.
- PID.
- Ectopic pregnancy.
- Ovarian torsion.
Give 3 hepatobiliary/pancreatic causes of abdominal pain.
- Hepatitis.
- Gall stones.
- Pancreatitis.
Give 2 urinary causes of abdominal pain.
- UTI.
2. Pelvic ureteric junction obstruction.
Give 5 signs of appendicitis.
- Anorexia.
- Pyrexia.
- Abdominal pain - initially central as the appendix is a mid gut structure but then localises to R side as the appendix irritates peritoneum.
- Vomiting.
- RIF rebound tenderness.
Why is central trauma and bruising to the abdomen a concern?
Mid-line structures such as the pancreas, spleen, bowel and liver may be damaged.
If you suspect trauma and abdominal organ damage what investigation might you do?
CT abdomen
Give 5 differentials for abdominal pain + rectal bleeding.
- Anal fissures.
- Haemorrhoids.
- Polyps.
- Proplapse.
- Infective causes.
- Meckel diverticulum. If melaena, suspect gastritis or duodenal ulcer.
What is Meckel diverticulum a remnant of?
omphalomesenteric duct
Give 3 signs of Meckel diverticulum.
- Severe rectal bleeding.
- Intussusception.
- Volvulus.
How would you treat Meckel diverticulum?
Surgical resection.
Give 3 differentials for abdominal mass.
- Constipation.
- Appendicitis.
- Organomegaly.
- Nephroblastoma/Wilm’s tumour.
Give 5 differentials for vomiting.
- GORD.
- Infection e.g. gastroenteritis.
- Food allergy/intolerance.
- Intestinal obstruction.
- Appendicitis.
- Coeliac disease.
- Over-feeding - common in bottle-fed infants.
- Necrotising enterocolitis.
- Malrotation - biliary vomit.
- DKA.
Give 3 causes of intestinal obstruction that can cause vomiting.
- Pyloric stenosis.
- Duodenal atresia.
- Intussusception.
- Hirschsprung’s.
What is pyloric stenosis?
A disease characterised by hypertrophy of the pyloric muscle causing gastric outlet obstruction.
Give 3 signs of pyloric stenosis.
- ‘projectile’ vomiting, typically 30 minutes after a feed
- constipation and dehydration may also be present
- a palpable mass may be present in the upper abdomen
- hypochloraemic, hypokalaemic alkalosis due to persistent vomiting
You suspect pyloric stenosis in a neonate. What investigations might you do?
- U+E.
- Blood gas.
- Dx: USS - hypertrophy of pyloric sphincter.
You do a blood gas on a neonate with pyloric stenosis. What would it show?
Metabolic Alkalosis - low K+ and Cl-. The baby has vomited up all the HCl and the kidneys go into overdrive - increased K+ secretion.
How would you manage a neonate with pyloric stenosis?
- IV fluids.
- Repeat gases to monitor alkalosis.
- NBM.
- Pyloromyotomy once stable.
How might malrotation in a neonate present?
Obstruction with bilious vomiting.
Abdominal pain and tenderness.
Any child presenting with dark green vomiting needs what urgent investigation?
An urgent upper GI contrast study to assess intestinal rotation.
Give a potential consequence of malrotation.
SMA blood supply to the small intestine can be compromised -> infarction.
What is duodenal atresia?
A congenital absence or complete closure of the duodenum. It causes intestinal obstruction in neonates.