GI Flashcards
What is the differential for a pt with fever, ascites, anorexia, and cachexia w/ hx of alcohol and drug use all concerning for liver failure?
alcoholic cirrhosis
chronic or acute viral heptatis (most likely hep C)
Spont. bacterial peritonitis
peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to ovarian cancer
What is the work up for concern for liver failure and ascites?
PT, PTT, INR
CBC, peripheral smear
BUN/Cr (look for hepatorenal syndrome)
AST, ALT, Alk phos, total bili, albumin, total protein
What are signs of chronic liver dz?
ascites
spider angiomata
asterixis
caput medusa
splenomegaly
palmar erythema
reversal of sleep-wake cycle with hepatic encephalopathy
What clotting factors are not made in the liver?
8 and von willebrand factor
What is the most common cause of cirrhosis in the US?
hep C
What are less common causes of cirrhosis?
more common: alcohol, hep C
less common: primary biliary cirrhosis
hemochromatosis
wilson dz
alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency
drugs: isoniazid, methotrexate, acetaminophen
What are causes of ascites?
cirrhosis
malignancy (ovarian)
TB
right sided heart failure
vascular obstruction due to hepatic vein thrombosis (Budd-CHiari) or IVC thrombosis
How do you figure out the casue of ascites?
SAAG
serum - ascitic albumin
if >1.0 = portal HTN as cause (cirrhosis, CHF, hepatic/portal vein thrombosis syndromes)
If <1.1 = no portal htn (cancer, infection…etc)
What tests should we always get in ascites?
paracentesis with SAAG (tell you cause) and white cell count (for SBP)
How do you look for hepatoma (liver cancer)?
get an alpha fetoprotein
*most commonly complication of hep C
What are the lab tests you should get for a pt with ascites and liver dz?
hep B and C serologies
paracentesis (WBCs and albumin)
Iron studies
ceruloplasmin levels
alpha-1 antitrypsin level
antimitrochondrial antibodies
liver U/S
How do you manage cirrhosis?
salt restriction
diuretics (spironolactone and furosemide)
stop drinking, alcohol cessation programs
balanced diet w/ protein
if portal HTN - do upper endoscopgy to look for esophageal varices to know if need to put on a beta blocker
if hepatic encephalopathy - lactulose and rifaxamin
How does spironolactone work?
direct aldo antagonist, can lead to gynescomastia and hyperK
How does furosemide work?
loop diuretic, inhibits Na-K-2Cl symporter in thick ascending loop - leads to hypoK
How does lactulose work?
It is used to increase bowel movements - which can decr ammonia levels
How to monitor pts with chronic liver dz?
surveillance for varices every 2 years if initial endoscopy negative
if cirrhosis present - liver US every 6 months for liver cancer
How to treat varices in chronic liver dz pts and how to prevent them?
treat - band ligation
prevent - non-selective beta blocker (propranolol or nadolol)
What is the most concerning dx to be thinking about in a patient with a GI bleed and hx of chronic liver dz?
bleeding esophageal varices (highest mortality)
Ddx for vomiting blood?
bleeding esophageal varices
mallory weiss tear
erosive gastritis
peptic ulcer bleeding
What are the first steps in management for an unstable GI bleed?
stabilize the pt!
- 2 large bore PIVs and NS boluses until BP>90, HR<90, or UOP incr
- CBC (won’t see acute drops in Hgb, just baseline), electrolytes, PT/PTT (liver pts), type and cross
- transfuse blood as needed (symptoms - SOB, chest pain, or severe cont bleed)
*give fresh frozen plasma if coagulopathy present
- upper endoscopy and therapeutic intervention (GI consult)
- NG tube can help tell if still active bleeding, then take out
How can an upper GI bleed present?
hematemesis, melena, or bright blood per rectum (10%), dizziness
What must be done before sending pts home who had an upper GI bleed?
upper endoscopy!
What is management for upper GI bleed due to varices after they are stabilized?
- admit and monitor for recurrent bleeding
- IV somatostatin/octreotide
- propranolol once BP stable
- monitor for delirium tremens (hallucinations)
- FFP if incr PT and cont bleeding
- Norfloxacin as prophylaxis against SBP (for ascites)
How to dx and tx upper GI bleeding?
endoscopy w/ band ligation
What counseling must always be given in pts admitted due to complications of alcohol comsumption?
counseling to stop drinking alcohol and suggest addication treatment
Which kind of ulcers are worse or better with eating?
duodenal are better with eating
Gastric ulcers are worse with eating
How to work up peptic ulcers?
CBC
LFTs (rule out cholelithiasis)
US gallbladder (same as above)
amylase/lipase (eval for pancreatitis)
What are complications of gastric/duodenal ulcers?
bleeding, perforation, gastric outlet obstruction
How do you tx peptic ulcer disease?
PPIs (omeprazole, lanzoprazole) for 2 months
Can also use H2 blockers or sucralfate)
*if symptoms continue or pt has red flags (age >50), consider upper endoscopy
What is Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and how does it present?
recurrent peptic ulcers + diarrhea
get a random gastrin level
it is caused by a gastrinoma
Do you test for H pylori with peptic ulcer dz?
yes with breath testing or stool antigen testing
How do you treat H pylori?
only if pt is symptomatic (has a ulcer or s/sx of ulcer)
PPIs (omeprazole, lanzoprazole)
2 wks of metronidazole or amoxicillin and clarythromycin depending on resistance (usually at least 2 abx)