GI Flashcards
S&S of GORD?
Heartburn (worse on lying/stooping), belching, acid/water brash, odonophagia and chronic cough
Tx of GORD?
Antacids e.g. magnesium trisilicate mixture or alginates e.g. gaviscon and PPIs
What are hiatus hernias?
Sliding hiatus hernia = the gastro-oesophagel junction slides up into the chest
Rolling hiatus-hernia = the gastro-oesophageal junction remains in the abdomen but some of the stomach herniates into the chest
Both cause GORD (especially sliding)
What is the main complication of GORD?
Normal stratified squamous epithelium of the distal oesophagus undergoes metaplasia to simple columnar epithelium (Barrett’s oesophagus). Increases risk of oesophageal cancer
S&S of peptic ulcers?
Epigastric pain related to hunger/time of day, heartburn and tender epigastrium
Tx of H.Pylori?
PPI and 2x Abx e.g. lansoprazole and clarithromycin and amoxicillin
Name 3 causes and 2 Sx of gastritis?
Alcohol, H.pylori and NSAIDs. Sx = epigastric pain and vomiting
What are oesophageal varices?
Swollen veins in the oesophagus which form as a result of reduced blood flow through the liver (in liver disease)
Sx of Coeliac disease?
Stinking stools which float in the pan, diarrhoea, weight loss, fatigue, abdo pain and bloating. Suspect if diarrhoea and weight loss/anaemia
Dx of Coeliac disease?
Anti-transglutaminase antibodies present (IgA) and duodenal biopsy whilst on gluten diet (look for villous atrophy)
What is the diagnostic criteria for IBS?
Recurrent abdominal pain associated with 2 of: relieved by defecation, altered stool form and altered bowel frequency
Tx IBS?
Control Sx:
Constipation = increase water and fibre uptake, laxatives
Diarrhoea = reduce fibre, avoid sorbitol sweeteners, loperamide
Pain = anti-spasmodics e.g. mebeverine
What are the most common casues of GI malabsorption in the UK? How may it present?
Coeliac disease, chronic pancreatitis and Crohn’s disease.
Weight loss, diarrhoea, anaemia, bleeding disorders, oedema and bone disease
What is the difference between UC and Crohn’s?
UC = continuous inflammation limited to the mucosa which occurs from rectum up to the ileocoaecal valve CD = transmural granulomatous inflammation affecting the whole gut from mouth to anus - skip lesions = unaffected areas between active disease
Sx of UC?
Diarrhoea (with blood and mucus), crampy abdo pain, urgency/tensesmus, clubbing, erythema nodosum and oral ulcers
Non-invasive Dx of GI inflammation?
Faecal calprotectin raised on blood test
Tx of UC?
5-ASA e.g. mesalazine to induce remission. THEN ADD corticosteroids e.g. prednisolone. THE ADD immunomodulators e.g. azathioprine.
Consider surgery
Sx of Crohn’s disease?
Diarrhoea, abdo pain, weight loss, perianal abscess/fistulae, clubbing, bowel and oral ulceration, failure to thrive
Dx of IBDs?
UC = sigmoidoscopy and biopsy CD = colonoscopy and biopsy
Tx of CD?
Steroids e.g. prednisolone, immunomodulation e.g. azathioprine and Anti-TNFalpha drugs e.g. infliximab
Non GI symptoms of IBDs?
Fatigue, fever, clubbing, skin/joint/eye problems
Name the most common viral/bacterial/parasitic causes of diarrhoea?
Viral = norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus and astrovirus Bacterial = salmonella, campylobacter, E.coli and shigella Parasitic = giardia, cryptosporidium and entamoeba histolytica
What is the difference between gastroenteritis and dysentery?
Gastroenteritis = diarrhoea with/without vomiting due to an enteric infection Dysentry = diarrhoea with blood e.g. due to salmonella or clostridium difficile
What is the commonest cause of travellers diarrhoea? How does it present?
Enterotoxigenic E.coli
Watery diarrhoea preceeded by cramps and nausea
What are the hereditary causes of colorectal cancer?
HNPCC = AD due to mutations in the mismatch repair genes. Require regular screenings (most common)
Familial adenomatous polyposis = mutation in a tumour suppresent gene leading to many coloretal adenomas which may become malignant. Prophylaxis surgery <25
Sx of colorectal cancer?
Abdominal mass or haemorrhage.
Left sided = Bleeding/mucous PR, altered bowel habit and obstruction
Right sided = weight loss, anaemia and abdominal pain
What is Dukes’ classification of bowel cancer?
A = inner lining of the bowel/slightly into muscularis mucosa B = extended through the muscularis mucosa C = spread to a regional lymph node D = metastasised to another part of the body