GI Bleeds and GI/Abdominal Emergencies Flashcards
Acute upper GI bleeds occur proximal to which anatomic landmark?
Proximal to the Ligament of Treitz
Which imaging modality is used for diagnosing Upper GI Bleeds?
EGD
*Also therapeutic
Small, cherry red lesions caused by dilations of venules that may be part of systemic conditions or occur sporadically are descriptive of what?
Telangiectasias
Aberrant, large-caliber submucosal arteries most commonly in the prox. stomach that cause recurrent, intermittent bleeding, are known as what?
Dieulafoy lesion
Upon admission to the ICU for an acute GI bleed what is the initial assessment that needs to be done?
Hemodynamic status
Which BP finding and HR is a sign of shock in a patient presenting with GI bleed?
- Hypotension: systolic <90 mmHg
- Tachycardia: HR >90 bpm
During stabilization of a patient with GI bleed in the ICU what should be started prior to further diagnostic tests?
Two large bore“18-gauge or larger” IV lines
For a patient presenting with a GI bleed in the ICU that seems unstable (i.e., signs of impending shock) what should be given?
IVFs –> 0.9% saline (aka normal saline) or Lactated Ringer
Which acid inhibitory therapy should be given to someone in the ICU for an upper GI bleed?
- IV PPIs
- Oral PPIs
Which drug is administered promptly to all patients with active upper GI bleeding and evidence of liver disease or portal HTN?
Ocreotide
Which lab finding is often found markedly elevated in patients with GI hemorrhage as a complication of PUD?
BUN
If hypotension is present early with the onset of pain in someone with suspected ulcer perforation, which 3 other abdominal emergencies should be considered?
- Ruptured aortic aneurysm
- Mesenteric infarction
- Acute pancreatitis
Lower GI Bleeding is defined as bleeding that arises below which structure?
Distal to Ligament of Treitz
How is evaluation of lower GI bleeding done in a stable patient?
Colonoscopy
Increased risk of lower GI bleeds in patients taking what agents?
- Aspirin
- Nonaspirin antiplatelet agents
- NSAIDs
Most common cause of lower GI bleeds in patients <40 yo?
- Neoplasms (stromal tumors, lymphomas, adenocarcinomas, carcinoids)
- Chron disease
- Celiac Disease
- Meckel diverticulum
In a patient over 50 yo w/ significant hematochezia what are 4 common causes?
- Diverticulosis
- Angiectasias
- Malignancy
- Ischemia
What is the most common cause of major lower GI bleeding?
Often presents how?
- Diverticulosis
- Acute, painless, large-volume maroon or bright red hematochezia in patients over age 50
What is the most common cause of painless lower GI bleeding which can range from melena or hematochezia to occult blood loss in patients >70 yo and in those with chronic renal failure?
Angioectasias (angiodysplasias)
Crampy abdominal pain, followed by frank bloody diarrhea in an older patient with atherosclerotic disease or young person using vasoconstricting recreational drugs is characteristic of?
Ischemic colitis
Black stools that are tarry/sticky (melena) predict a source of the bleed where?
Proximal to Ligament of Treitz
Large volumes of bright red bloody stool suggests a bleed where?
Colon
Brown stools mixed or streaked with blood predict the source of the bleed to be where?
Rectosigmoid or anus
Painless large-volume bleeding from the lower GI suggests what source?
Diverticular bleeding
When diagnosing a suspected lower GI bleed what needs to be excluded first?
Which imaging modalities can be used?
- Exclude UGIB (NGT (not completely exclusive), EGD)
- Anoscopy and sigmoidoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Nuclear bleeding scans and angiography
- Small intestine push enteroscopy or capsule imaging
Diverticulosis is most commonly found where in the colon?
Sigmoid
Herniations or saclike protrusions of the mucosa through the muscularis at points of nutrient artery penetration defines what?
Diverticulosis
90% of patients with diverticulosis are what?
Asymptomatic
Hemorrhage associated w/ diverticulosis usually occurs in the absence of ?
Diverticulitis
Periumbilical pain out of proportion to tenderness (i.e., pt is writhing in pain, but PE isn’t impressive) is characteristic of what GI problem?
Acute Mesenteric Ischemia
What will abdominal XR show in patient with Acute Mesenteric Ischemia?
Characteristic sign?
- Bowel distention and Air-fluid levels
- Thumb-printing (submucosal edema)
What is the diagnostic study of choice for Acute Mesenteric Ischemia?
Early celiac and mesenteric ________ is recommended?
- CT angiography = study of choice
- Early celiac and mesenteric arteriography is recommended
Which procedure is indicated in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia to restore intestinal blood flow obstructed by embolus or thrombosis or to resect necrotic bowel?
Laparotomy
Ischemic colitis is characterized by what symptoms and signs?
Severe lower abdominal pain followed by rectal bleeding