GI AND LIVER Flashcards
what is achalasia?
-oesophageal aperistalsis and impaired relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter
what are the risk factors for developing achalasia?
- Allgrove syndrome (achalasia, alacrima, adrenal insufficiency).
- Viral infection.
- Autoimmune disease such as multiple sclerosis and Sjogren’s syndrome.
what are the clinical features of achalasia?
- Intermittent dysphagia for both solids and liquids from the onset.
- Retrosternal chest pain due to oesophageal spasm.
- Regurgitation of food.
- Aspiration pneumonia.
- Gradual weight loss.
what is the first line investigation for achalasia and what does it show?
- upper GI endoscopy:
- -Obscured mucosa
- -Dilated oesophagus
- -Food debris.
what is seen on barium swallow in achalasia?
- Lack of peristalsis
- bird beak appearance of lower end of oesophagus.
which investigation is diagnostic of achalasia and what does it show?
- manometry
- Incomplete relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter
- oesophageal peristalsis.
how is achalasia treated?
- nifedipine or verapamil.
- pneumatic dilatation or laparoscopic cariomyotomy
- botox
what are the complications of acute pancreatitis?
- haemorrhage
- hyperglycaemia
- hypocalcaemia
- pancreatic pseudocyst
- fistulas
- pancreatic abscess
- ARDS
what are the causes of acute pancreatitis in adults?
- Idiopathic
- Gallstones.
- Ethanol.
- Trauma.
- Steroids.
- Mumps.
- Autoimmune.
- Scorpion bites.
- Hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercalcaemia, or hypothermia.
- ERCP.
- Drugs such as bendroflumethiazide, allopurinol, azathioprine and tetracyclines.
what are the causes of acute pancreatitis in children?
- blunt abdominal trauma (RTA)
- viral infection (mumps, Hep A, coxsackie B)
- multisystem disease such as SLE, Kawasaki, HUS, IBD and hyperlipidaemia)
- drugs and toxins (thiopurines, metronidazole, cytotoxic drugs)
- pancreatic duct obstruction (e.g. cystic fibrosis, choledochal cysts or tumours)
what are the symptoms of acute pancreatitis?
- Severe epigastric pain that radiates to the back. It is sudden onset, continuous, and worse with movement.
- Nausea and vomiting.
what are the signs of acute pancreatitis?
- Abdominal tenderness and distension.
- Stony dull percussion due to pleural effusion.
- Bluish discolouration around the Umbilicus (Cullen’s sign) or over both flanks (Grey Turner’s sign) due to haemorrhagic pancreatitis.
- Facial spasm due to hypocalcaemia (Chvostek’s sign).
- Tachycardia, hypotension, oliguria, sweating due to hypovolaemic shock.
what investigations should be performed for suspected acute pancreatitis and what is seen?
- Amylase or lipase: 3x upper limit of normal
- transabdominal USS: may see gallstones
- FBC: neutrophils raised
- CRP: raised
what three criteria should be met to diagnose acute pancreatitis?
- Upper abdominal pain.
- Serum lipase or amylase is greater than 3x the upper limit.
- Radiological changes (USS, CT) consistent with pancreatitis.
what are the poor prognostic factors in pancreatitis?
- PaO2 < 8.0 kPa
- Age > 55 years.
- Neutrophilia > 15 x 109/L
- Calcium < 2 mmol/L
- Renal Function: urea > 16 mmol/L
- Enzymes: Serum LDH > 600 U/L
- Albumin < 30 g/L
- Sugar: Blood glucose > 10 mmol/L
how is acute pancreatitis managed?
- fluid resus
- supportive care e.g. analgesia, supplemental oxygen, antiemetic and calcium/magnesium replacement therapy
- establish normal feeds when tolerable
- ERCP for gallstones
how is pancreatic necrosis managed?
- Administer intravenous antibiotics (imipenem).
- Perform percutaneous catheter drainage.
- Perform a necrosectomy if catheter drainage is unsuccessful.
what are the causes of chronic pancreatitis?
- alcohol excess
- hereditary pancreatitis
- autoimmune pancreatitis
- ductal adenocarcinoma
what are the complications of chronic pancreatitis?
- pancreatic pseudocyst formation
- pleural effusion
- jaundice
- fat necrosis
what are the symptoms of chronic pancreatitis?
- An intermittent dull epigastric pain that radiates to the back, that is relieved by leaning forward, and worsened by eating.
- Steatorrhoea.
- Weight loss.
- Malnutrition.
- Bloating, abdominal cramps, excessive flatus.
- Nausea and vomiting.
what are the signs of chronic pancreatitis?
- Signs of chronic liver disease.
- Epigastric tenderness.
- Jaundice.
- Abdominal distension due to a pseudocyst.
- Skin nodules due to disseminated fat necrosis.
- Shortness of breath due to a pleural effusion.
how is chronic pancreatitis managed?
- lifestyle changes such as smoking and alcohol cessation, smaller, more frequent meals and minimising sugar intake.
- analgesia (paracetamol) for pain relief.
- pancreatin and fat soluble vitamins for exocrine insufficiency.
- endoscopic drainage of pseudocysts if there is persistent pain or complications
- biliary decompression if there is a two-fold elevation in ALP that persists for more than 1 month.
- pancreatic ductal decompression for pain relief if other medications fail.
what is a mallory-weirs tear?
rupture of the oesophageal mucosa
what is Boerhaave syndrome?
perforation of the whole thickness of the oesophageal wall
what are the risk factors for the Mallory-weiss/Boerhaave syndrome?
- Significant alcohol use.
- History of food poisoning, gastroenteritis, gallstones, cholecystitis etc.
- Chronic cough e.g. bronchiectasis, COPD, lung cancer.
- Hiatus hernia.
what are the clinical features of Mallory-weiss/Boerhaave syndrome?
- Haematemesis following second episode of vomiting, it may have a ‘coffee-ground’ appearance or bright-red bloody haematemesis.
- Dizziness and postural hypotension.
- Severe retrosternal pain (Boerhaave syndrome).
how should suspected mallory-weiss tear investigated and what does it show?
- oesophagogastroduodenoscopy
- Red longitudinal defect.
how should boerhaave syndrome be investigated?
water double contrast enema (Gastrografin) to localise the lesion.
how is boerhaave syndrome managed?
-Early recognition and surgical management within 12 hours of rupture
what is mesenteric adenitis?
inflamed lymph glands in the abdomen
what are the clinical features of mesenteric adenitis?
- abdominal pain
- following a sore throat or cold
- fever and generally unwell
- nausea and diarrhoea
how is mesenteric adenitis diagnosed?
- clinically
- by excluding other causes of abdominal pain
what are the clinical features of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency?
- Productive cough.
- Shortness of breath on exertion.
- Wheezing.
- Chest hyperinflation.
- Jaundice.
- Asterixis.
how is Alpha-1-Antitrypsin deficiency diagnosed?
- Measure plasma AAT level: < 20 mmol/L.
- Perform pulmonary function testing: Reduced FEV1, FVC and FEV/FVC; Increased TLC.
- Perform CXR: Large lung volumes and emphysema.
how is Alpha-1-Antitrypsin deficiency managed?
- lifestyle advice such as smoking cessation.
- hepatitis A and B vaccination.
- For pulmonary manifestations: Offer bronchodilators, inhaled steroids and antibiotics.
- For hepatic manifestations: Offer diuretics for ascites, endoscopy to detect and manage varices, and liver transplantation in decompensated cirrhosis.
when does infant colic present?
first few months of life
what are the clinical features of infant colic?
- Paroxysmal, inconsolable crying or screaming
- accompanied by drawing up of the knees
- passage of excessive flatus
- takes place several times a day, particularly in the evening.
what are the symptoms of appendicitis?
- Anorexia
- Vomiting and nausea
- Fever
- Abdominal pain, initially central and colicky (appendicular midgut colic), but then localising to the right iliac fossa (from localised peritoneal inflammation)
what are the signs of appendicitis?
- low-grade fever
- Abdominal pain aggravated by movement
- Persistent tenderness with guarding in the right iliac fossa (McBurney’s point).
- Rovsing’s sign – palpation of the left lower quadrant increases pain in the right lower quadrant
- Psoas sign – passive extension of the right thigh with the person in the left lateral position elicits pain in the RLQ, suggestive of a retrocaecal appendix
what is seen on FBC and CRP in appendicitis?
- neutrophil dominant leucocytosis
- Elevated CRP
how is appendicitis managed?
- supportive therapy - NBM, IV fluids and analgesia
- Laparoscopic appendicectomy
- postoperative antibiotics (e.g. amoxicillin + metronidazole) for complicated appendicitis where there is suspected perforation.
what is intussusception?
-invagination of proximal bowel into a distal segment.
what are the clinical features of intussusception?
- Paroxysmal, severe colicky pain
- pallor
- May refuse feeds
- may vomit, which may become bile-stained depending on the site of the intussusception
- sausage shaped mass palpable in the abdomen
- passage of redcurrant jelly stool
- abdominal distention
- shock
what is seen on ultrasound in intussusception?
target sign
how is intussusception managed?
- Perform fluid resuscitation with 0.9% NaCl.
- Give clindamycin and gentamicin if sepsis is suspected.
- Perform pneumatic reduction (air insufflation) as first line management in patients who are clinically stable.
- Perform surgical reduction if pneumatic reduction fails.
what is a volvulus?
a twist in the bowel that occludes its lumen.
what are the clinical features of volvulus?
- Absolute constipation.
- Crampy abdominal pain.
- Bilious vomiting (caecal volvulus)
- If ischaemia is present:
- –Severe acute abdominal pain.
- –Tachycardia.
- –Tachypnoea.
- –Acidosis.
- –Guarding and rebound tenderness.
what is seen on AXR in volvulus?
- Inverted U shaped loop in sigmoid volvulus
- Coffee bean share in caecal volvulus.
what is seen on upper GI contrast series in volvulus?
- Bird-beak sign in sigmoid volvulus
- Corkscrew sign in caecal volvulus.
how is sigmoid volvulus managed?
- Perform therapeutic flexible sigmoidoscopy with insertion of a rectal tube if there is no peritonitis or mucosal gangrene.
- Perform surgical resection if there is peritonitis or mucosal gangrene.
how is caecal volvulus managed?
- Perform surgical resection as first line.
- Offer supportive care including nasogastric tube, IV fluid resuscitation and prophylactic antibiotics.
- If ischaemia is not present, gram positive cover is required e.g. cefazolin.
- If ischaemia is present, gram negative cover is required e.g. cefoxitin.
what is meckel’s diverticulum?
blind-ended outpouching of the ileum on the antimesenteric border approximately 60 cm from the ileocaecal valve
what are the clinical features of Meckel’s diverticulum?
- Haematochezia
- intractable constipation
how is Meckel’s diverticulum diagnosed?
- Order a technetium-99m pertechnetate scan: Ectopic focus.
- Perform surgical exploration of the abdomen: Identify Meckel’s diverticulum.
how is Meckel’s diverticulum managed?
- Perform a laparoscopic resection.
- Give urgent blood transfusion if bleeding.
- Remove any adhesive bands if obstruction.
- Perform small bowel segmental resection and give cefotaxime and metronidazole if perforation and peritonitis.
what are the risk factors for developing gallstones?
- Crohn’s disease.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Diet high in triglycerides, refined carbohydrates, and low in fibre.
- Female gender.
- Hispanic and Native-American ethnicity.
- Increasing age.
- Octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, due to impaired gallbladder motility.
- GLP-1 analogies.
- Ceftriaxone, due to precipitation of bile.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Obesity.
what are the clinical features of biliary colic?
-Severe epigastric and RUQ
pain
- lasting several hours
- associated with nausea and vomiting.
what is seen on abdominal ultrasound in biliary colic?
- gallstones in gallbladder
- stones in the bile duct
what are the risk factors for acute cholecystitis?
- Trauma.
- Burns.
- Immobility.
- Starvation.
- Sepsis.
- Acute renal failure.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Vascular disease.
- Total parenteral nutrition.
- Narcotic analgesics.
what are the clinical features of acute cholecystitis?
- Sudden-onset, constant, severe pain in the upper right quadrant.
- Referred pain in the shoulder or intrascapular region.
- Tenderness in the upper right quadrant, with or without Murphy’s sign.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Fever.
what is seen on serum LFTs in acute cholecystitis?
- Raised aminotransferases
- raised ALP.
what is seen on abdominal ultrasound in acute cholecystitis?
- Distended gallbladder
- Gallstones.
following ultrasound, which diagnostic investigations can be used?
MRCP and ERCP
how is acute cholecystitis managed?
- Provide fluid resuscitation, analgesia and antibiotics to all patients.
- Refer for laparoscopic cholecystectomy preferably within a week of onset.
- Refer for percutaneous cholecystectomy to manage gallbladder empyema for patients unfit for general anaesthesia and surgery, and who do not improve after fluid resuscitation, analgesia, and antibiotics.
what are the risk factors for ascending cholangitis?
- Above the age of 50.
- History of cholelithiasis.
- History of primary or secondary sclerosing cholangitis.
- Surgical, endoscopic or radiological intervention of bile ducts.
what are the clinical features of ascending cholangitis?
- Charcot’s triad: Fever, jaundice, right upper quadrant pain.
- Reynold’s pentad: Charcot’s triad, in addition to hypotension and confusion, which are indicative or sepsis.
what is seen on serum LFTs in ascending cholangitis?
- Raised ALT
- raised ALP
- hyperbilirubinaemia.
what are the diagnostic criteria for ascending cholangitis?
- A: Systemic inflammation:
- –Fever (>38 degrees celsius) and or shaking chills.
- –Laboratory data: Raised WCC.
- B: Cholestasis:
- –Jaundice.
- –Laboratory data: Abnormal LFTs.
- C: Imaging:
- –Biliary dilation.
- –Evidence of aetiology: Stones.
how is ascending cholangitis managed?
- Give intravenous antibiotics:
- –Initially give piperacillin with tazobactam.
- –Give metronidazole with ciprofloxacin as an alternative for patients with a penicillin allergy.
- Perform biliary decompression:
- –Perform ERCP with sphincterectomy, as first-line therapy.
- –Perform percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography (PTC) for patients who are poor ERCP candidates.
- –Perform laparoscopic choledochotomy with T tube
- –Perform endoscopic lithotripsy for stones that are large or difficult to remove.
-Offer opioid analgesia (morphine, pethidine, fentanyl).
What are the risk factors for development of fulminant hepatic failure?
- Chronic alcohol use
- Poor nutritional status
- Female sex
- Age >40 years
- Pregnancy
- Chronic hepatitis B
- Narcotics e.g. paracetamol
- Hepatotoxic medication
what are the clinical features of fulminant hepatic failure?
- jaundice
- hepatomegaly
- abdominal pain with RUQ tenderness
- malaise
- encephalopathy - drowsiness, confusion, coma
- hypotension
- hypoglycaemia
- cerebral oedema
what is seen on LFTs and clotting in fulminant hepatic failure?
- Hyperbilirubinaemia
- Prolonged PT > 30 seconds
- Elevated INR > 1.5.
how is paracetamol overdose managed?
- Admit to ICU if blood paracetamol concentration is greater than > 700 mg/L, associated with coma and elevated lactate level.
- Administer activated charcoal if the patient presents within 1 hour of ingestion.
-Additionally, administer intravenous acetylcysteine (140 mg/kg orally) within 8 hours for paracetamol toxicity.
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in which cases should acetylcysteine be given immediately?
- There is uncertainty about the time of overdose, but it is potentially toxic
- The overdose was staggered over a time period longer than an hour
- The plasma-paracetamol level is over the treatment line on the treatment graph
- The overdose was taken 8-36 hours before presenting
how should an anaphylactoid reaction to acetylcysteine be managed?
-If anaphylactoid reaction to acetylcysteine occurs, stop the infusion, give nebulised salbutamol, then re-commence infusion at a lower rate.
what are the clinical features of alcoholic fatty liver?
- often no symptoms or signs.
- Vague abdominal symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are due to the more general effects of alcohol on the gastrointestinal tract.
- Hepatomegaly, sometimes huge, can occur together with other features of chronic liver disease.
what are the clinical features of alcoholic hepatitis?
- Right upper quadrant pain.
- Hepatomegaly.
- Jaundice.
- Ascites
what are the clinical features of alcoholic cirrhosis?
- Ascites.
- Varices.
- Hepatic encephalopathy.
- Hepatocellular carcinoma.
what is seen on LFTs in alcoholic liver disease?
- Raised AST and ALT
- AST:ALT > 2
- Elevated GGT.
how is alcoholic liver disease managed?
- Recommend alcohol abstinence, weight reduction and smoking cessation.
- Recommend bed rest with a diet high in protein and vitamin supplements.
- Recommend the influenza and pneumococcal vaccine.
- Offer prednisolone to patients with alcoholic hepatitis with a Maddrey’s Discriminant Function score of 32 or more.
- Offer furosemide and spironolactone for patients with less severe ascites.
- Consider liver transplantation in patients with end-stage disease.
what autoantibodies are present in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis?
- Antinuclear antibody (ANA)
- smooth muscle antibody (SMA)
- soluble liver antibody (SLA) positive.
what autoantibodies are present in type 2 autoimmune hepatitis?
-Anti-liver/kidney microsomal-1 (ALKM1).
what are the clinical features of autoimmune hepatitis?
- Fatigue.
- Anorexia.
- Abdominal discomfort.
- Hepatomegaly.
- Jaundice.
- Pruritus.
- Arthralgia.
- Nausea.
Fever.
what is seen on LFTs in autoimmune hepatitis?
- Raised AST and ALT
- Mild elevation of ALP and GGT
- Raised bilirubin
- Low serum albumin.
what are the criteria for initiating management in autoimmune hepatitis?
- Raised aminotransferase levels greater than 10-fold the upper list.
- Raised gamma-globulin level at least twice the upper limit of normal.
- Bridging necrosis on liver histology.
how is autoimmune hepatitis managed?
- prednisolone and azathioprine
- ursodeoxycholic acid in addition to initial management for patients with autoimmune hepatitis - primary biliary cholangitis overlap syndrome.
- liver transplant
what are the clinical features of Budd-Chiari syndrome?
- Right upper quadrant pain.
- Tender hepatomegaly.
- Ascites
- Splenomegaly due to underlying myeloproliferative disease.
- Leg oedema due to obstruction of the inferior vena cava.
- Jaundice and hepatic encephalopathy with acute liver failure
what is seen on doppler ultrasonography in Budd-chiari syndrome?
- Thrombosis
- stenosis.
how is budd-chiari syndrome treated?
- Perform thrombolysis for symptomatic patients presenting within 72 hours.
- Offer anticoagulation (enoxaparin or dalteparin) if the patient presents after 72 hours.
- Perform hepatic angioplasty as the second line treatment.
- Perform surgical shunting as the third line treatment.
- Perform liver transplant as the fourth line treatment, or as an emergency procedure in patients with fulminant disease.
what is compensated cirrhosis?
the liver can still function effectively, and there are no or few clinical symptoms.
what is decompensated cirrhosis?
the liver is damaged to the point that it cannot function adequately and overt clinical complications.
what are the risk factors for the development of cirrhosis?
- Alcohol misuse.
- Hepatitis B and C (unprotected sex and intravenous drug use).
- Obesity.
- Autoimmune disease (autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis).
- Genetic conditions (haemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency).
what are the clinical features of cirrhosis?
- Presence of stigmata of chronic liver disease
- Spider naevi.
- Palmar erythema.
- Leukonychia
what are the clinical features of variceal haemorrhage?
- Haematemesis
- Melaena.
what are the clinical features of ascites?
- Abdominal swelling.
- Mild generalised abdominal pain.
- Deterioration suggests spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
what are the clinical features of hepatic encephalopathy?
- Fetor hepaticus (sweet smell to breath).
- Asterixis.
- Decreased mental function.
- Coma.
what is seen on LFT in cirrhosis?
- Raised AST and ALT
- Raised GGT
- Prolonged PT (most sensitive and specific finding for liver cirrhosis).
how is ascites managed?
- Initially give spironolactone.
- Offer large volume paracentesis for symptomatic tense ascites or when diuretic therapy is insufficient to control accumulation of fluid.
- Offer intravenous cefotaxime and human albumin solution for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
how are oesophageal varies managed?
- Offer a beta blocker for prophylaxis for variceal haemorrhage.
- Offer terlipressin with suspected oesophageal variceal haemorrhage.
- Perform endoscopic band ligation if bleeding does not stop following terlipressin.
- Consider transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) if bleeding is not controlled by band ligation.
how is cirrhosis treated?
liver transplant
what are the risk factors for coeliac disease?
- Family history of coeliac disease.
- Type 1 diabetes.
- Autoimmune thyroid disease.
- Gluten exposure.
- Down’s syndrome.
what are the clinical features of coeliac disease?
- Diarrhoea.
- Bloating.
- Abdominal discomfort.
- Anaemia.
- Fatigue.
- Weight loss.
- Failure to thrive.
- Depression and anxiety.
- Peripheral neuropathy.
- wasted buttocks
what is seen on coeliac serology?
- Elevated titre of IgA-tissue Transglutaminase
- Elevated titre of IgG endomysial antibodies.
what is the gold standard investigation in coeliac disease and what does it show?
- endoscopy
- subtotal villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia
how is coeliac disease managed?
- Advise long-term adherence to a gluten free diet. The usual cause for failure to respond to the diet is poor compliance.
- Offer supplementation (iron, folic acid, calcium, vitamin D) if needed.
- Offer pneumococcal vaccinations once every 5 years due to hyposplenism
how is coeliac crisis treated?
- Rehydrate and correct electrolyte abnormalities.
- Offer a short course of glucocorticoid therapy (budesonide).
what is dermatitis herpetiformis?
uncommon blistering subepidermal eruption of the skin associated with a gluten-sensitive enteropathy
what are the clinical features of tropical sprue?
- diarrhoea
- anorexia
- abdominal distension
- weight loss.
how is tropical sprue diagnosed?
- Acute infective causes of diarrhoea must be excluded, particularly Giardia
- Malabsorption should be demonstrated, particularly of fat and B12.
- The jejunal mucosa is abnormal, showing some villous atrophy (partial villous atrophy).
how is tropical sprue treated?
- folic acid
- tetracycline
- Severely ill patients require resuscitation with fluids and electrolytes for dehydration, and nutritional deficiencies should be corrected.
- Vitamin B12 (1000 μg) is also given to all acute cases.
what are the clinical features of gut bacteria overgrowth\?
- diarrhoea and steatorrhoea
- b12 deficiency
- high folate
how is gut bacteria overgrowth diagnosed?
-hydrogen breath test
how is gut bacterial overgrowth treated?
- correct underlying lesion
- rotating courses of antibiotics, such as metronidazole, a tetracycline or ciprofloxacin.
which factors predispose to adenocarcinoma of the small bowel?
- coeliac disease
- Crohn’s
which factors predispose to lymphoma of the small bowel?
- coeliac disease
- IPSID
how are small bowel adenocarcinomas treated?
-segmental resection
how is immunoproliferative small intestinal disease treated?
- if there is no evidence of lymphoma, antibiotics, e.g. tetracycline, should be tried initially.
- In the presence of lymphoma, combination chemotherapy is used
how is lymphoma of the small bowel treated?
- surgery
- radiotherapy with chemotherapy
where do carcinoid tumours arise from?
enterochromaffin cells in the small intestine
what are the clinical features of carcinoid syndrome?
- Diarrhoea.
- Flushing.
- Palpitations.
- Abdominal cramps.
- Telangiectasia.
- Peripheral oedema.
- Elevated JVP.
- Cardiac murmurs.
- Hepatomegaly.
- Wheeze
how should suspected carcinoid syndrome be investigated?
- Measure serum chromogranin A: Elevated.
- Measure urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid: Elevated.
- Perform an CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis: Location of primary tumour and liver metastases.
how is carcinoid syndrome managed?
- Perform surgical resection of localised disease with no evidence or lymph node involvement or distant metastases.
- Give a somatostatin analogue (octreotide or lanreotide) which controls symptoms of flushing, diarrhoea, and wheeze.
what are the risk factors for developing colon cancer?
- Increasing age.
- A diet high in animal fat and red meat.
- Obesity.
- Smoking.
- Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) (Lynch syndrome)
- Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
- IBD
what are the clinical features of colon cancer?
- Rectal bleeding.
- Looser and more frequent stools.
- Tenesmus.
- Symptoms of anaemia.
- Rectal mass on DRE, and occasionally, a palpable abdominal mass on examination.
- Weight loss and anorexia are associated with advanced disease.
what is seen on blood tests in colon cancer?
- Perform a FBC: Anaemia suggestive of right sided colorectal cancer.
- Measure LFTs: May be abnormal in liver metastases.
- Measure U&Es: May be abnormal in renal metastases or diarrhoea.
which patients with suspected colon cancer should be referred on a 2 week wait?
- Aged 40 and over with unexplained weight loss and abdominal pain.
- Aged over 50 with unexplained rectal bleeding.
- Over 60 with iron deficiency anaemia or change in bowel habit.
what is the diagnostic investigation for colon cancer?
colonoscopy with biopsy
which cancer antigen is measured in colon cancer?
serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
how is colon cancer managed?
- surgery
- chemotherapy
- lifestyle advice (smoking cessation and reduced intake of red meat)
what are the risk factors for developing crohn’s disease?
- Family history of Crohn’s disease.
- Smoking.
- Infectious gastroenteritis.
- Appendicectomy.
- Drugs such as NSAIDs.
what are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease?
- Unexplained and persistent diarrhoea (frequent loose stools for more than 4 - 6 weeks), including nocturnal diarrhoea.
- Abdominal pain or discomfort.
- Perianal pain or tenderness.
- Non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, anorexia, fever.
what are the signs of Crohn’s disease?
- Pallor.
- Clubbing.
- Aphthous mouth ulcers.
- Abdominal tenderness or mass, for example in the right lower quadrant.
- Signs of malnutrition and malabsorption such as weight loss, faltering growth or delayed puberty.
what are the extra-intestinal manifestations of Crohn’s disease?
- Pauci-articular or polyarticular arthritis.
- Erythema nodosum usually on the anterior tibial area or extensor surfaces of the arms or legs.
- Uveitis and episcleritis, both of which produce a red eye, but the formed is painful and is associated with blurred vision, photophobia, headache
- Metabolic bone disorders such as osteoporosis, osteopenia, osteomalacia.
- sacroiliitis causing buttock pain, or spondylitis causing back pain.
- Pyoderma gangrenosum.
- Psoriasis
- Hepatobiliary conditions such as primary sclerosing cholangitis.
how do fistulas present in Crohn’s disease?
- Recurrent urinary tract infections, passing gas or faeces through the urine or vagina.
- Perianal discharge of mucus or pus.
- Partial bowel obstruction presents as abdominal colicky pain and distension.
- Complete bowel obstruction presents as severe abdominal pain, vomiting, no flatus, complete constipation.
what is seen on blood tests in crohn’s?
- anaemia, either microcytic or normocytic
- raised ESR and CRP
- hypoalbuminaemia in severe disease
- pANCA negative
what is seen on stool tests in Crohn’s?
-Faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin are raised in active colonic disease
what are the macroscopic changes on colonoscopy in Crohn’s disease?
- skip lesions
- cobblestone appearance
- deep ulcers and fissures
what are the microscopic changes on colonoscopy in Crohn’s disease?
- transmural inflammation
- non-caseating granulomas
how is remission induced in Crohn’s?
- nutritional therapy in children
- corticosteroids
- aminosalicylate
how is remission maintained in Crohn’s?
- thiopurine
- methotrexate
- TNFa inhibitor (infliximab or adalimumab) if no response to conventional therapy
how is a fistula treated in Crohn’s?
- Offer colorectal surgery in patients with complicated perianal or internal fistulas or fistulas that fail to respond to optimal medical treatment.
- Offer a thiopurine to maintain remission.
- Offer 3-months post operative metronidazole to control infection.
what are the risk factors for developing UC?
- Family history.
- No appendicectomy.
- Drugs such as NSAIDs.
- Not smoking.
what are the symptoms of UC?
- Bloody diarrhoea persisting for more than 6 weeks.
- Rectal bleeding.
- Faecal urgency and or incontinence.
- Nocturnal defecation.
- Tenesmus (persistent, painful urge to pass stool even when rectum is empty).
- Abdominal pain, particularly in the left lower quadrant.
- Pre-defecation pain that is relieved on passage of stool.
- Non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, anorexia, or fever.
- Weight loss, faltering growth, or delayed puberty
what are the signs of UC?
- Pallor
- Clubbing.
- Abdominal distension, tenderness or mass, for example in the left lower quadrant.
- Signs of malnutrition or malabsorption.
what is seen on blood tests in UC?
- iron deficiency anaemia
- raised WCC
- raised platelets
- Raised ESR and CRP
- hypoalbuminaemia
- positive pANCA
what is seen on colonoscopy in UC?
- superficial inflammation that is continuous
- the mucosa looks reddened, inflamed and bleeds easily (friability).
- In severe disease there is extensive ulceration with the adjacent mucosa appearing as inflammatory (pseudo) polyps.
- In ulcerative colitis, the mucosa shows a chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate in the lamina propria.
- Crypt abscesses and goblet cell depletion are also seen.
how is mild-moderate UC treated to induce remission?
- a topical aminosalicylate
- oral aminosalicylate
- corticosteroids
- ciclosporin
how is remission maintained in UC?
- thiopurine
- methotrexate
intravenous TNF-alpha inhibitor (infliximab or adalimumab)
what are the risk factors for the development of diverticula?
- Genetic factors.
- Increasing age.
- Low-fibre diet.
- Smoking.
- Obesity.
- Drugs such as NSAIDs.
what are the clinical features of diverticular disease?
- Intermittent abdominal pain in the left lower quadrant, which may be triggered by eating and relieved by the passage of stool or flatus.
- Constipation, diarrhoea or occasional large rectal bleeds.
- Bloating and passage of mucus rectally.
- Tenderness in the left lower quadrant.
how should diverticular disease be investigated?
colonoscopy
how is diverticular disease managed?
-Arrange urgent admission if the patient has significant rectal bleeding and is haemodynamically unstable (a pulse greater than 150 bpm, and a systolic blood pressure lower than 90 mmHg).
- Offer lifestyle advice to patients who do not need admission:
- –Recommend a healthy balanced diet contains whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
- –Recommend drinking an adequate fluid intake with a high-fibre diet.
- Consider prescribing a bulk-forming laxative (Ispaghula husk) if a high fibre diet is insufficient, or if symptoms of constipation or diarrhoea persist.
- Offer paracetamol for pain relief. Advise the patient to avoid NSAIDs and opiate analgesia.
what are the clinical features of uncomplicated diverticulitis?
- Constant abdominal pain, usually severe and starting in the hypogastrium before localising in the left lower quadrant.
- Fever.
- Change in bowel habit.
- Significant rectal bleeding.
- Nausea, vomiting, dysuria, urinary frequency.
- Tenderness in the left lower quadrant.
what are the clinical features of complicated diverticulitis?
-Abscess formation suggested by abdominal mass on examination.
-Perforation and peritonitis suggested by abdominal rigidity, guarding, and rebound
tenderness.
- Sepsis suggested by skin discolouration, raised or lowered temperature, rigors, change in conscious level, confusion, rapid pulse, reduced urination.
- Fistula formation: Faecaluria, pneumaturia.
- Intestinal obstruction suggested by colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, inability to pass flatus, abdominal distension.
how is acute uncomplicated diverticulitis managed?
- Offer paracetamol for pain relief.
- Advise the patient to avoid NSAIDs and opiate analgesia.
- Offer co-amoxiclav for patients who are systemically unwell, but do not meet the criteria for suspected complicated acute diverticulitis.
how is acute complicated diverticulitis managed?
- Arrange urgent hospital admission if there is suspected acute diverticulitis:
- –Offer intravenous antibiotics (co-amoxiclav or metronidazole + cefuroxime), fluid replacement, and analgesia.
- Consider percutaneous drainage of an abscess that is greater than 3 cm.
- Offer laparoscopic lavage or Hartmann’s procedure (sigmoid colectomy with formation of an end colostomy) for patients with faecal peritonitis or who fail to respond to antibiotic therapy.
what are the risk factors for the development of eosinophilic oesophagitis?
- Family history of eosinophilic oesophagitis.
- Male sex.
- Atopic disease (asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis / sinusitis, food allergies).
- Children and young adults.
- White ancestry.
what are the clinical features of eosinophilic oesophagitis?
- Dysphagia.
- Food avoidance and modification behaviours.
- Regurgitation.
- Heartburn.
- Oesophageal pain.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Failure to thrive.
how is eosinophilic oesophagitis diagnoses
- OGD
- Oesophageal biopsy
how is eosinophilic oesophagitis treated?
- Offer a corticosteroid (budesonide or fluticasone) for 8 weeks.
- Offer dietary elimination therapy for 6 weeks.
- Offer endoscopic oesophageal dilation (wire-guided bougie) in patients with severe oesophageal narrowing.
- Emerging therapy includes mepolizumab, a monoclonal antibody against IL-5.
what are the risk factors for squamous carcinoma of the oesophagus?
- alcohol
- tobacco
what are the risk factors for adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus?
- barrett’s oesophagus
- hiatus hernia
what are the clinical features of oesophageal cancer?
- Progressive dysphagia for solids (meat and bread) and then liquids within weeks.
- Odynophagia.
- Weight loss.
- Anorexia.
- Lymphadenopathy.
how is oesophageal cancer diagnosed?
-OGD with biopsy