GI and Liver Flashcards
What are the upper GI tract red flags (5)
- Anaemia
- Loss of weight
- Anorexia
- Recent onset/progressive
- M (haemetamesis)
- Swallowing difficulty
What is the epidemiology of GORD (2)
- Common
- Prolonged reflux can cause stricture/Barretts (squamous - columnar)
What can cause/are risk factors for GORD (8)
- Hiatus hernia (sliding or rolling)
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Obesity
- Loss of peristalsis/sphincter function loss
- Overeating
- Pregnancy
- Increased acid secretion
How might GORD present (6)
- Heartburn (worse on alcohol/hot drinks, stooping/bending, relieved by antacids)
- Belching
- Acid/food brash (reflux of acid and food into mouth)
- Water brash (excess salivation)
- Pain on swallowing
- Cough
How do you diagnose GORD (3)
- Clinical unless ALARMS or over 55
- Endoscopy
- Barium swallow
How do you treat GORD (6)
- Lifestyle change
- Antacids (Mg trisilicate)
- Gaviscon
- PPI (lansoprazole)
- H2 receptor antagonists (cimetidine)
- Fundoplication
What is a peptic ulcer
- A break in the superficial epithelial lining penetrating down to muscularis mucosa of stomach or duodenum. Have a fibrous base and increased inflammatory cells
What is the epidemiology of peptic ulcer disease (4)
- Increases with age
- Most commonly caused by H.pylori or NSAIDs
- Duodenal ulcers more common than gastric
- Duodenal cap and Lesser curvature of stomach are most common areas
What is the pathophysiology of peptic ulcer disease
- NSAIDs or H.pylori disrupt the mucosal layer covering the gastric mucosa
- This leads to acid destroying the epithelial layer and infiltrating to the muscularis mucosa layer
- This leads to ulceration and also gastritis
How might peptic ulcer disease present (4)
- Very localised burning epigastric pain
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- Ulcers can get deeper until they cause haemorrhage or peritonitis
How do you diagnose peptic ulcer disease (3)
- Stool antigen test
- C-urea breath test (for H.pylori)
- Endoscopy (ALARMS/over 55)
How do you treat peptic ulcer disease (3)
- PPI/H2 receptor antagonist (cimetidine)
- Stop NSAIDs
- H.pylori (clarithromycin + amoxicillin)
What is a varice
- A dilated vein at risk of bleeding
What is the epidemiology of oesophago-gastric varices (2)
- 90% with cirrhosis will develop varices
- Usually develop in the lower oesophagus/gastric cardia
What are the causes of oesophago-gastric varices (3)
- Pre-hepatic portal hypertension (thrombus)
- Intra-hepatic portal hypertension (cirrhosis)
- Post-hepatic portal hypertension (heart failure/budd chiari syndrome)
How might oesophago-gastric varices present (5)
- Rupture
- Abdominal pain
- Haematemesis
- Pallor
- Tachycardia/hypotension
- Shock
How do you diagnose oesophago-gastric varices
- Endoscopy
How do you treat oesophago-gastric varices (4)
- Acute (rupture)
- Blood transfusion
- Variceal banding
- iv terlipressin (vasoconstriction)
- Prevention
- Beta-blockers
- Variceal banding
What is gastritis
- Stomach inflammation associated with mucosal damage
What can cause gastritis (5)
- NSAIDs
- H.pylori
- Ischaemia
- Increased acid secretion
- Autoimmune gastritis
How might gastritis present (5)
- Epigastric pain
- Abdominal swelling
- Vomiting/haemetamesis
- Indigestion
- Nausea/stomach upset
How do you diagnose gastritis (2)
- Endoscopy/biopsy
- H.pylori stool antigen/C urea breath test
How do you treat gastritis (3)
- Stop NSAIDs
- PPI/H2 receptor agonists (cimeditine)
- H.pylori (clarithromycin + amoxicillin)
What are the main causes of malabsorption (4)
- Pancreatic insufficiency
- Decreased bile secretion
- Decreased absorptive surface area (coeliac/crohns/surgery)
- Non-pancreatic enzyme insufficiency (lactose intolerance)
What is coeliac disease
- A T-cell mediated autoimmune disorder leading to small bowel inflammation, damage and malabsorption in response to prolamin
What is the epidemiology of coeliac (3)
- 1% population affected
- Associated with family
- Peaks in infancy and 50-60
Describe the pathophysiology of coeliac
- Gluten sensitive T-cells cause inflammatory response to prolamin
- This causes villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia and wc in the epithelium
- Affects proximal small bowel most leading to Fe, vitamin D and folate deficiency (anaemia)
How might coeliac present (6)
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss
- Diarrhoea
- Anaemia
How do you diagnose coeliac (2)
- Duodenal biopsy (villous atrophy etc.)
- Serum antigen testing (tissue transglutimase antibody)
How do you treat coeliac (2)
- Gluten free diet
- Replace Vit. D, Fe and folate
What is the epidemiology of ulcerative colitis (UC) (3)
- More common than Crohns
- More common in non-smokers
- Usually presents at 15-30
Describe the pathophysiology of UC
- Non-granulatomous inflammation of superficial mucosal layer
- Starts at rectum spreads out to ileocaecal valve
- No skip lesions (continous)
- 50% rectum, 30% rectum and distal colon, 20% rectum and colon
- Crypt abscesses and goblet cell depletion
How might UC present (6)
- Remission/exacerbation (depression, stress, NSAIDs)
- Diarrhoea (blood + mucus)
- Left lower quadrant pain
- Weight loss/malaise
- Cramps
- Oral ulcers/erythema nodosum
How do you diagnose UC (3)
- Bloods (raised CRP/ESR/WCC)
- Stool sample to exclude infection
- Colonoscopy and biopsy
How do you treat UC (6)
- Mild/moderate
- Oral 5 aminosalicylic acid (sulfasalazine)
- Oral prednisolone
- Severe
- iv hydrocortisone
- Infliximab
- Remission
- Azathioprine
- Surgery
What is the epidemiology of crohns (3)
- More common in females
- More common in smokers
- Usually presents at 20-40
Describe the pathophysiology of crohns
- Transmural granulatomous inflammation of mouth to gut
- Skip lesions (non-continous)
- Cobblestone appearance
How might crohns present (4)
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain (less localised)
- Anal tags
- Weight loss/malaise
How do you diagnose crohns (3)
- Bloods (raised ESR/CRP/WCC)
- Stool sample to exclude infection
- Colonsocopy with biopsy
How do you treat crohns (6)
- Smoking cessation
- Mild/moderate
- Slow releasing steroid
- Prednisolone
- Severe
- IV hydrocortisone
- Infliximab
- Remission
- Azathioprine
- Surgery
What is intestinal obstruction
- Arrest/blockage of the forward propulsion of intestinal contents
What are the 3 types of intestinal obstruction
- Obstruction of lumen
- Disease of wall
- Disease outside wall
What can cause obstruction of bowel lumen (2)
- Tumour
- Bile stone (ileum)
What can cause Disease of bowel wall (4)
- Tumour
- Crohns
- Diverticulitis
- Neural
What can cause disease outside bowel wall (2)
- Adhesion (most common cause)
- Volvulus
What are the main causes of small bowel obstruction (SBO) (4)
- Adhesion (most common)
- Tumour
- Hernia
- Crohns
Describe the pathophysiology of SBO
- Obstruction leads to proximal dilation and distention of bowel
- This causes malabsorption and ischaemia
- Ischaemia can lead to necrosis and perforation
How might SBO present (5)
- Abdominal pain (initially colicky)
- Abdominal distension (less than LBO)
- Vomiting
- Late constipation
- Increased bowel sounds
How do you diagnose SBO (3)
- X-Ray (distended bowel)
- FBC
- CT (gold standard)
How do you treat SBO (4)
- Fluids
- Analgesia and anti-emetics
- Bowel decompression
- Surgery
What are the main causes of large bowel obstruction (LBO) (2)
- Malignancy
- Volvulus
Describe the pathophysiology of LBO
- Bowel proximal to obstruction dilates/distends
- This leads to ischaemia, which causes mucosal oedema
- This leads to necrosis and perforation
How might LBO present (5)
- Abdominal pain (less colicky than SBO)
- Abdominal distension (more than SBO)
- Constipation
- May be faecal vomiting
- Palpable mass
How do you diagnose LBO (3)
- X-Ray (bowel distension)
- FBC
- CT
How do you treat LBO (4)
- Fluids
- Analgesia and anti-emetics
- Bowel decompression
- Surgery
What is the epidemiology of acute mesenteric ischaemia (2)
- Usually seen in older patients
- Nearly always affects small bowel
What are the causes of acute mesenteric ischaemia (4)
- Superior mesenteric artery thrombosis (Most common)
- SMA embolus (eg. in A.F)
- Mesenteric vein thrombosis
- Decreased flow/C.O
How might acute mesenteric ischaemia present (3)
- Triad of
- Acute severe abdominal pain
- Absence of abdominal findings
- Hypovolaemia (shock)
How do you diagnose acute mesenteric ischaemia (3)
- X-Ray (to exclude other causes)
- Laparotomy
- CT/MRI angiography
How do you treat acute mesenteric ischaemia (4)
- Fluids
- IV gentamicin
- IV heparin
- Surgery to remove necrosed bowel
What is the epidemiology of ischaemic colitis (2)
- More common in older
- Related to underlying CVS disease
What are the causes of ischaemic colitis (4)
- Thrombus
- Embolus
- Low flow/C.O
- Drugs
How might ischaemic colitis present (3)
- Sudden onset LLQ abdominal pain
- Bright red blood in stools +/- diarrhoea
- May be hypovolaemic/shock
How do you diagnose ischaemic colitis (2)
- Urgent CT to exclude perforation
- Colonoscopy and biopsy
How do you treat ischaemic colitis (3)
- Antibiotics
- Fluids
- Gangrenous (peritonitis + shock)
- Urgent surgery
What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- A mixed group of abdominal symptom with no organic cause found
What is the epidemiology of IBS (3)
- Onset before 40
- Common
- More common in females
What are the main causes of IBS (5)
- Depression/anxiety
- Stress
- Abuse
- GI infection
- Eating disorders
What are the types of IBS (3)
- IBS-D
- IBS-C
- IBS-M
How might IBS present (8)
- ABC
- Abdominal pain/discomfort
- Bloating
- Change in bowel habit
- 2+ of:
- Urgency
- Incomplete emptying
- Bloating
- Mucus in stool
- Symptoms worse after food
What is the epidemiology of acute pancreatitis
- Inflammation of pancreatic gland initiated by any acute injury
- Reoccurs if untreated
- Can be difficult to distinguish from chronic
What are the causes of acute pancreatitis
- IGETSMASHED
- Idiopathic
- Gallstones (most common)
- Ethanol (alcohol)
- Trauma
- Steroids
- Mumps
- Autoimmune
- Scorpion venom
- Hyperlipidaemia
- E
- Drugs
Describe the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis
- Premature activation of pancreatic enzymes leads to autodigestion of the pancreas by its own enzymes
- This leads to acute inflammation of the pancreas
- Destruction of Beta cells on islets of langerhans leads to hyperglycaemia
- Blood vessel damage leads to haemorrhage
How might acute pancreatitis present (6)
- Sudden/subacute onset severe epigastric/middle abdominal pain, radiating to back (may be relieved by sitting forward)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Tachycardia/hypotension
- Bruising on stomach/flank (greys/cullens signs)
How do you diagnose acute pancreatitis (4)
- Bloods (raised serum amylase and lipase)
- Erect CXR (exclude gastro-duodenal perforation)
- MRI
- Ultrasound (gallstones)
How do you treat acute pancreatitis (6)
- Remove stones
- Analgesia (morphine)
- Nasogastric tube
- Catheter
- Drain build up
- ANtibiotics
What is chronic pancreatitis
- Debilitating continuous inflammation of the pancreas leading to progressive fibrosis of exocrine pancreatic tissue
What is the epidemiology of chronic pancreatitis (2)
- More common in males
- Usually presents around 50