GI/general Surgery Flashcards
What is the site involvement for
A) UC
B) crohns
A) large bowel
B) entire GI tract
Where is the inflammation in
A) UC and
B) Crohns
A) UC= inflammation affects mucosa only
B) Crohns= inflammation is transmural
What are the microscopic changes in UC?
Crypt abscess formation
Reduced goblet cells
Non granulomatous
What are the microscopic features in Crohns?
Granulomatous (non caseating)
What are the macroscopic changes in UC/ Crohns?
UC= CONTINOUS inflammation (proximal from the rectum)
Pseudo polyps and ulcers may form
What are the macroscopic changes in Crohns?
Discontinous inflammation (skip lesions)
Fissures and deep ulcers (cobblestone)
Fistula
What are the features of UC?
The cardinal feature is BLOODY DIARRHOEA
This is in 90% of cases
The most common manifestation is proctitis, whereby the inflammation is confined to the rectum only- PT complain of PR bleeding and mucus discharge, increased freq and urgency of defecation and tenesmus
What are the extra intestinal manifestation of UC?
MSK- enteropathic athritis (affecting sacroiliac and other large joints) or nail clubbing)
Skin- erythema nodosim
Eyes- episcleriris, anterior uveitis, iritis
Hepatobiliary- primary sclerosing cholangitis (chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the bile ducts)
What IX would you do for UC?
FBC, U and Es, LFTs, clotting= to look for anaemia, low albumin secondary to systemic illness, evidence of inflammation (raised CRP and WCC)
Faecal calprotectin (raised in IBD, unchanged in IBS)
Stool sample for microscopy andculture
Imaging= DEFINiTIVE DIAGNOSIS for UC is colonoscopy w/ biopsy
In acute situations, then plain film abdominal radiographs or CT imaging can be used to assess for toxic megacolon and/ or the presence of bowel perforation.
How do you manage UC
- inducing remission
An acute attack will warrant aggressive fluid resuscitation, nutritional support and prophylactic heparin (due to thrombotic state of IBD flares)
Medical management to induce remission requires IV corticosteroid therapy and immunosuppresive agents, such as: ciclosporin or 5-ASA suppositories
How do you maintain remission in UC?
Remission of disease can be maintained using immunomodulators typically 5-ASAS (mesalazine/ sulfasalazine/azathioprine)
When do patients with UC require surgery?
Indications for acute surgical treatment include disease which is refractory to medical management, toxic megacolon or bowel perforation. Surgery will depend on pt and disease factors however will typically require segmental bowel resection
Total proctocolectomy is curative
What are the complications of UC?
Toxic megacolon (presents with severe abdo pain, abdo distension, pyrexia, systemic toxicity)
Colorectal carcinoma
Osteoporosis
Pouchitis (inflammation of an ileal pouch)
What are the risk factors for Crohns.
Strong family history (20% have first degree relative affected) and smoking (increases both the risk of developing crohns and relapsing)
What are the clinical features of UC?
Episodic abdominal pain and diarrhoea
Colicky in nature
Diarrhoea often contains blood/mucus
What other sites other than colon are affected in Crohns?
Oral apthous ulcers (can be painful and recurring)
Perianal disease with perianal abscess
What are the extra intestinal features of Crohns?
MSK- enteropathic arthritis, nail clubing, metabolic bone disease (secondary to malabsorption)
Skin- erythema nodosum or pyoderma
gangrenosum
Eyes- episcleritis, anterior uveitis, iritis
Renal stones
What Investigations would you do for Crohns?
Routine bloods- anaemia, low albumin (secondary to systemic illness), evidence of inflammation (raised WCC and CRP)
Faecal calprotectin
Stool sample
COLONOSCOPY w/biopsy= GOLD STaNDARD
What is used to classify severity of Crohns?
Montreal
What imaging may be used in Crohns?
CT scan Abdomen pelvis- can demonstrate bowel obstruction (from stricturing), bowel perforation, intra abdominal collections
MRI imaging- can be used to assess disease severity both with small bowel imvolvement and presence of any enteric fistulae
What is the management of Crohns?
Inducing remission- acute attacks warrant aggressive fluid rescucitation, nutritional support and prophylactic heparin and anti embolic stockings (due to the prothrombin state of IBD flares)
Medical management- corticosteroid therapy as first line, subsequent treatments including immunosuppressive agents- mesalazine, azathioprine
Maintaining remission- Azathioprine
Smoking cessation
IBD nurse specialists
If they have had it more than ten years with more than 1 segment of the bowel affected then colonoscopic surveillance is offered
What are the complications of Crohns?
Fistula, stricture, recurrent perianal fistulae, GI malignancy (small bowel cancer is 30x more common in ppl with crohns, and 3% risk of developing colorectal cancer)
Extraintestinal- malabsorption, osteporosis, increased risk of renal and gallstones
How do you diagnose IBS?
Abdominal discomfort/pain
Relieved by opening bowel
Associated with a change in bowel habit
And 2 of: abnormal stool passage, bloating, worse after eating, mucus with stools
How do you manage IBS?
General healthy diet and exercise advice:
Adequate fluid intake
Regular small meals
Reduced processed foods
Limit caffeine and alcohol
Low FODMAP diet guided by a dietitian
Trial of probiotic supplements for 4 weeks
First line management:
Loperamide for diarrhoea, laxatives for constipation (avoid lactulose), hyoscine butylbromide