GI conditions Flashcards
(140 cards)
where are the common locations to find squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth? How do they present?
floor of mouth
lateral borders of the tongue
hard, indurated ulcer with raised + rolled edges
what are some precursors to oesophageal adenocarcinoma?
oesophagitis (reversible) -> Barrett’s oesophagus (irreversible?) -> adenocarcinoma
what red flags indicate a 2 week endoscopy referral?
> 55 y/o with new onset pain / reflux with anaemia
weight loss
anaemia - could be indicated by conjunctival pallor
dysphagia + odynophobia
GI bleed - melaena or coffee ground vomiting
worsening GI pain with N+V, low Hb + raised PLT count
what is gastropathy?
epithelial cell damage and regeneration without inflammation
what is gastroparesis? what is it’s treatment?
partial paralysis of the stomach - delayed gastric emptying
treatment = remove cause + correct nutritional deficiencies
–> may requite pro-motility agents / gastric pacemaker
what is functional dyspepsia and what are it’s investigations?
dyspepsia symptoms but no structural abnormality for explanation
investigations = H. pylori excluded via stool antigen test
- young (<50) need no further investigations
- – older or red flag symptoms require endoscopy
does eating worsen or improve pain from duodenal ulcers?
eating improve pain of duodenal
** eating worsens pain when gastric ulcer
what are the investigations for peptic ulcers?
<55 - typical symptoms + positive for H. pylori = start eradication therapy + no further investigations required
older or red flags - endoscopic diagnosis (rapid urease test (CLO) + exclusion of cancer
management of peptic ulcers?
high dose protein pump inhibitors - omeprazole
if H. pylori - eradication therapy
–> amoxicillin (metronidazole if allergic) + clarithromycin
what is the histological change in barretts oesophagus?
metaplasia of the lower oesophagus from squamous to columnar epithelium
what is the management of barretts oesophagus?
PPI - omeprazole
if dysplastic = ablation treatment - photodynamic, laser or cryotherapy
–. destroys epithelium so replaced by normal cells (prevents progression to cancer) - don’t use if no dysplasia
monitored for dysplasia
what is achlasia and what can cause it?
impaired peristalsis (ring of muscles don’t open properly) + failure of LOS to relax
causes-
nerve damage to oesophagus
viral infection
autoimmune condition
what are signs + symptoms of achlasia?
gradually worsening symptoms (few years) until impossible to swallow
dysphagia bringing up undigested food chocking/coughing spontaneous chest pain - due to oesophageal spasm gradual weight loss chest infections
lower oesophageal pressure elevated in >50%
what are the investigations for achlasia?
CXR - dilated oesophagus, fluid level behind heart, absent fundal gas shadow
manometry - small plastic tube, measures pressure at various points
barium swallow - lack of peristalsis, ‘bird’s beak’ due to failure of sphincter relaxation
endoscopy - passes with little resistance
what is the treatment for achlasia?
all palliative
nitrates / pifedipine - relax muscles, side effects = headaches
balloon dilation - often need repeated, may cause rupture
botox injections - needs repeated
Heller’s myotomy = surgery (permanent)
what is Heller’s myotomy? when would it be carried out?
surgery where muscle fibres are cut to make swallowing easier
permanent fix
can cause reflux + heartburn
used for achlasia treatment
how would you discover an oesophageal diverticulum?
barium swallow
what type of bacteria is helicobacter pylori? how does it effect the GI tract?
gram negative aerobic bacteria
forces way into gastric mucosa to avoid acidic environment - breaks created exposes epithelial cells to acid
produces ammonia to neutralise acid - also damages epithelial cells
what investigations are carried out for H. pylori infections?
urea breath test
stool antigen test - no antibiotics or H2 antagonists for 4 weeks
rapid urease test (CLO test) - done during endoscopy, (stomach mucosa biopsy + urea -> if present urease enzymes produce ammonia -> pH test alkaline)
offered to anyone with dyspepsia - 2 weeks PPI free before testing
what is the treatment for H. pylori?
triple therapy for 7 days
- omeprazole + amoxicillin (metronidazole if allergic) + clarithromycin
how do you test for giardia and amoeba?
stool microscopy
how do you test for salmonella, campylobacter, shigella?
stool culture - salmonella, campylobacter, shigella
blood cultures - salmonella
how do you test for C. Diff?
stool toxin
describe staph aureus in association with gastroenteritis
gram positive coccus
fast incubation - 1hr of eating milk, meat, fish (preformed toxin)
acts on vomiting centre in brain
goes yellow on blood agar - beta haemolysis