GI and endocrine Flashcards
management of hypoglycaemia if conscious
- initially 10-20g glucose PO either liquid/sugar lumps - can repeat after 10-15 minutes
- then snack providing sustained carbohydrate given
management of hypoglycaemia if unconscious
- community/can’t get access = IM glucagon
- 20% IV glucose - 10g
treatment of hypoglycaemic coma (follows profound hypo lasting >5 hours causing cerebral oedema)
IV mannitol and dexamethasone
with IV glucose and constant glucose monitoring to keep glucose level at 5-10mmol
criteria for diagnosing DKA
- urine ketones ++ or in blood >3mmol/l
- capillary blood glucose >11mmol/L or known T1DM
- ABG - pH <7.3 or HCO3 <16mmol
drugs which can cause diabetes
steroids
antipsychotics
thiazides
steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 for T2DM drug management
1) if >48, metformin 500mg BD after food - if metformin not tolerated or CI: give gliptin or gliclazide or pioglitazone
2) if >58 16 weeks later: metformin + sulphonylurea (gliclazide 40mg OD) or pioglitazone or SGLT2 inhibitor
- if >58 6 months after use INSULIN
3) if >58 triple therapy:
- metformin + sitagliptin + gliclazide
- metformin + pioglitazone + gliclazide
- metformin + gliclazide + SGLT2 inhibitor
4) if not tolerated, side effects or contraindicated AND BMI >35
- metformin + gliclazide + GLP-1 mimetic
chief cause of death in diabetes
CVD - 75% have heart attack/stroke
how to check for diabetic nephropathy
check for microalbuminuria (ACR >3 but dipstick not positive for protein)
keep BP under control
when to avoid metformin
if eGFR <36
what procedures to stop metformin for
before GA or contrast containing iodine
diabetes drugs causing hypoglycaemia and weight gain
sulphonylureas - e.g. gliclazide
pioglitazone
which diabetes drug can cause fractures, fluid retention and increased LFTs
pioglitazone
which diabetes drug is contraindicated in CCF or osteoporosis
pioglitazone
diabetes drug increasing the risk of UTI/thrush
SGLT-2 inhibitors e.g. empaglifozin
what is Charcot’s arthropathy
diabetic foot injury:
osteoporosis, fracture, acute inflammation and disorganisation of architecture
usually presents as hot swollen foot after minor trauma
what is necrobiosis lipoidica
inflammatory condition where shiny, red-brown or yellow patches develop in the skin usually on the shins
associated with diabetes
what is the SINBAD system used for
to document severity of diabetic foot ulcer:
site, ischaemia, neuropathy, bacterial infection area and depth
antibiotic treatment for osteomyelitis (often in diabetic foot disease)
flucloxacillin +/- gentamicin/metronidazole for at least 7 days put o 6 weeks
annual screening for diabetic foot disease
- palpating pulses
- 10g monofilament on sole of foot (neuropathy)
what do the antibodies do in graves
stimulate TSH receptor
what is acropachy
soft tissue swelling of hands and clubbing of fingers (periostitis)
in graves disease
complication of carbimazole
agranulocytosis - warn to come for FBC if sore throat
management of graves
- BBs for rapid symptom control (or CCB)
- carbimazole - usually euthyroid within 4-8 weeks
- repeat TFTs monthly and alter dose according to T4 level
when is radioiodine for graves disease contraindicated
pregnancy
age <16
thyroid eye disease
causes of Addison’s disease
- autoimmune (most common)
- TB
- metastases
- HIV
- APS
- meningococcal septicaemia
- secondary - pituitary disorders (tumours, irradiation, infiltration)
which endocrine disorder causes hypotension
ONLY Addison’s
electrolyte imbalances in Addison’s
hyponatraemia (in 90%)
hyperkalaemia
how does the short Synacthen test work
plasma cortisol measured before and 30 minutes after given 250mcg of Synacthen IM
should cause a rise in cortisol - in adrenal insufficiency this doesn’t occur
cortisol levels to investigate for Addison’s
- <100 = urgent investigation
- 100-500 = refer to endocrinology
ACTH levels in primary insufficiency (Addison’s) vs secondary
primary/Addison’s = ACTH high
secondary = ACTH normal/low
management of adrenal crisis
high dose hydrocortisone and IV fluids (with dextrose if hypoglycaemic)
6 hourly hydrocortisone until patient stable
drugs which can cause hypothyroidism
lithium
amiodarone
carbimazole
secondary causes of hypothyroidism
- pituitary failure
- associated with Down’s syndrome, Turner’s and coeliac disease
TFTs in primary vs secondary hypothyroidism
- primary = increased TSH, low T4, low/normal T3
- secondary = low/normal TSH, low T4, low/normal T3
antibodies present in hypothyroidism (usually)
anti-TPO
when to lower dose of levothyroxine for hypothyroidism
elderly
ischaemic heart disease
NB: increase dose in pregnancy
when should TFTs be checked after changing dose of levothyroxine
after 8-12 weeks
goal is TSH 0.5-2.5
complications of levothyroxine
- hyperthyroidism
- AF
- worsening of angina
- reduced bone mineral density
- interacts with iron and calcium carbonate - five at least 4 hours apart
most common cause of primary hyperparathyroidism
solidary adenoma
cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism
decreased vit D / chronic renal failure
= hypocalcaemia, leading to more PTH secreted = hyperplasia
serum calcium level will be low/normal but PTH will be high
treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism
correcting underlying cause - vit D deficiency, renal failure
cause of tertiary hyperparathyroidism
when secondary continues for a long time - parathyroid hyperplasia = baseline PTH increases dramatically
when treating secondary and reduced need for increased PTH - PTH still high as it used to be producing large amounts = hypercalcaemia
characteristic XR finding of hyperparathyroidism
pepper pot skull
investigation results for hyperparathyroidism
- raised calcium
- LOW phosphate
- PTH raised or normal (inappropriately given the raised calcium)
definitive management of primary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism
total parathyroidectomy
when can you do conservative management for hyperparathyroidism
if calcium <0.25 mmol/l above upper limit of normal
AND patient >50
AND no evidence of end organ damage
calcimimetic agents e.g. cinacalcet
complications post parathyroidectomy
- hypocalcaemia
- recurrent laryngeal nerve injury
ECG findings in hypercalcaemia
- bradycardia
- short QT
- wide T waves
- prolonged PR
- BBB
- arrhythmia
- HTN
- arrest?
what is premature arcus senilis
white/grey opaque ring in corneal margin - sign of hyperlipidaemia
cholesterol level to refer for familial hyperlipidaemia
consider if >7.5
refer if >9 or LDL >7.5
primary prevention for hyperlipidaemia
if QRISK2 >10% or T1DM >40 or DM >10 years or CKD if eGFR <60
atorvastatin 20mg OD
if non-HDL hasn’t fallen by 40%+ then consider titrating up to 80mg
secondary prevention for hyperlipidaemia (known IHD/CVD/PAD)
atorvastatin 80mg OD
what is primary hypoparathyroidism
decreased PTH secretion e.g. secondary to thyroid surgery
LOW calcium, high phosphate, low/inappropriately normal PTH
treatment of hypoparathyroidism
alfacalcidol
diet rich in calcium and vit D
what is Trousseau’s sign
carpal spasm if brachial artery occluded by inflating BP cuff - sign of hypoparathyroidism
what is Chvostek’s sign
tapping over parotid causes facial muscles to twitch - sign of hypoparathyroidism
how is pseudohypoparathyroidism characterised
similar findings to hypoparathyroidism - but PTH is elevated due to PTH resistance
when to FNAC a thyroid nodule
any nodule ?1cm
any patient with thyroid lump + stridor =
same day referral - may be recurrent laryngeal nerve involvement
TFTs in a non toxic/simple goitre
normal - non-functioning nodules
what is Riedel’s
rare cause of hypothyroidism - dense fibrous tissue replacing normal thyroid parenchyma = hard, fixed painless goitre
associated with retroperitoneal fibrosis
when to give FFP in active bleeding
if fibrinogen level <1/litre
if PT/APTT >1.5 normal
when should endoscopy be offered in acute GI bleed
should be offered immediately after resuscitation in patients with severe bleed - all patients within 24 hours
what to do before endoscopy in ?varices
give terlipressin 2mg QDS before endoscopy - stop once haemostasis achieved
also give ciprofloxacin 200mg IV for 72 hours before
definitive management of oesophageal varices
- band ligation
- transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) if band ligation unsuccessful
type of laxative to use in opioid induced constipation and impaction
osmotic - Macrogol/movicol 1st line, lactulose 2nd line
add stimulant (Senna) if response inadequate
what is Beriberi
HF with general oedema or neuropathy - due to lack of B1 (thiamine)
what is pellagra
diarrhoea, dementia, dermatitis
due to lack of nicotinic acid (B6)
what is Kwashiokor
malnutrition due to severe deficiency of proteins/essential amino acids
can cause abdominal distension with fatty liver
investigation results in Kwashiokor
- hypoalbuminaemia
- normo and microcytic anaemia
what is Marasmus
malnutrition due to severe energy (calories) deficiency
hypoalbuminaemia found
how should refeeding be started if at risk of refeeding syndrome
started at <50% energy requirements if eaten little/nothing for 5+ days - increase slowly over 4-7 days
drugs which can cause GORD
- TCA
- anticholinergics
- nitrates
- CCB
- NSAIDs
when to do an upper GI endoscopy for GORD
- > 55
- symptoms >4 weeks/despite treatment t
- dysphagia
- relapsing symptoms
- weight loss
If endoscopy is negative - do 24 hour oesophageal pH monitoring
how is oesophagitis graded on endoscopy
Savary-Miller grading (1-5 - 5 is Barrett’s)
management of endoscopically proven oesophagitis
- full dose PPI for 1-2 months
- if no response - double dose PPI for 1 month
management of endoscopically negative oesophagitis
- full dose PPI for 1 month
- if no response - H2 receptor antagonist or pro kinetic for 1 month
most common type of oesophageal carcinoma in UK
adenocarcinoma (most likely in GORD/Barrett’s)
what is bird beak sign
back up of food in oesophagus (in achalasia - where the LOS doesn’t open fully during swallowing)
most common type of hiatus hernia
sliding (GOJ moves above the diaphragm)
other type = rolling (GOJ remains below diaphragm and separate part of stomach herniates through oesophageal hiatus)
what is diagnostic of hiatus hernia on CXR
retrocardiac air-fluid level
pharmacological management of hiatus hernia
PPI (also H2 antagonists but less effective)
only do surgery if high doses of meds not helping (respiratory complications, risk of strangulation)
drugs which can cause a peptic ulcer
- NSAIDs
- SSRIs
- corticosteroids
- bisphosphonates
most common type of peptic ulcer
duodenal
when is endoscopy required for a peptic ulcer
IDA
weight loss
progressive dysphagia
epigastric mass
management of H. pylori negative peptic ulcer
PPIs until ulcer healed
management of H. pylori positive peptic ulcer
- PPI + amoxicillin + clarithromycin OR
- PPI + metronidazole + clarithromycin
most common type of gastric carcinoma
> 90% adenocarcinoma
infection associated with gastric cancer
H. pylori