GI: GORD & Diverticular Disease Flashcards
What is GORD?
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is where acid from the stomach flows through the lower oesophageal sphincter and into the oesophagus, where it irritates the lining and causes symptoms.
Describe cells lining oesophagus vs stomach
Oesophagus –> squamous epithelial lining (more sensitive to the effects of stomach acid)
Stomach –> columnar epithelial lining (more protected against stomach acid)
Causes/triggers of symptoms of GORD?
- Greasy and spicy foods
- Coffee and tea
- Alcohol
- NSAIDs
- Stress
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Hiatus hernia
Presentation of GORD?
Dyspepsia is a non-specific term used to describe indigestion. It covers the symptoms of GORD:
- Heartburn
- Acid regurgitation
- Retrosternal or epigastric pain
- Bloating
- Nocturnal cough
- Hoarse voice
Red flag symptoms in GORD?
Patients with symptoms suspicious of cancer get a two week wait referral for further investigation.
Key red flag features:
1) Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) at ANY AGE gets an immediate 2 week wait referral
2) Aged over 55 (this is generally the cut-off for urgent versus routine referrals)
3) Weight loss
4) Upper abdominal pain
5) Reflux
6) Treatment-resistant dyspepsia
7) Nausea and vomiting
8) Upper abdominal mass on palpation
9) Low haemoglobin (anaemia)
10) Raised platelet count
Why is dysphagia an important symptom?
Remember dysphagia as a critical red flag. Any patient presenting with the feeling that food is getting STUCK on the way down needs an urgent two week wait referral for an endoscopy.
1st line investigation in GORD?
An oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD) –> involves inserting a camera through the mouth down to the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum.
What can an OGD be used to assess for?
- Gastritis
- Peptic ulcers
- Upper GI bleeding
- Oesophageal varices (in liver cirrhosis)
- Barretts oesophagus
- Oesophageal stricture
- Malignancy of the oesophagus or stomach
If a patient has evidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (e.g., melaena or coffee ground vomiting, what is next step?
They need admission and urgent endoscopy.
Indications for an upper GI endoscopy?
1) age > 55 years
2) symptoms > 4 weeks or persistent symptoms despite treatment
3) dysphagia
4) relapsing symptoms
5) weight loss
If endoscopy is negative, what is next step in GORD?
24 hour oesophageal pH monitoring
Gold standard test for diagnosis of GORD?
24-hr oesophageal pH monitoring
What is a hiatus hernia?
A hiatus hernia refers to the herniation of the stomach up through the diaphragm.
How can a hiatus hernia lead to GORD?
Normal:
1) The diaphragm opening should be at the lower oesophageal sphincter level and fixed in place
2) A narrow opening helps to maintain the sphincter and stops acid and stomach contents from refluxing into the oesophagus.
GORD:
When the opening of the diaphragm is wider, the stomach can enter through the diaphragm, and the contents of the stomach can reflux into the oesophagus.
What are the 4 types of hiatus hernias?
Type 1: sliding
Type 2: rolling
Type 3: combination of sliding and rolling
Type 4: large opening with additional abdominal organs entering the thorax
What is a sliding hiatus hernia?
Where the stomach slides up through the diaphragm, with the gastro-oesophageal junction passing up into the thorax.
What is a rolling hiatus hernia?
Where a separate portion of the stomach (i.e., the fundus), folds around and enters through the diaphragm opening, alongside the oesophagus.
What is a type 4 hiatus hernia?
Type 4 hiatus hernia refers to a large hernia that allows other intra-abdominal organs to pass through the diaphragm opening (e.g., bowel, pancreas or omentum).
Investigations for a hiatus hernia?
1) CXR
2) CT scan
3) Endoscopy
4) Barium swallow test
N.B. Hiatus hernias can be intermittent, meaning they may not be seen on investigations.
Lifestyle management options in GORD?
1) Reduce tea, coffee and alcohol
2) Weight loss
3) Avoid smoking
4) Smaller, lighter meals
5) Avoid heavy meals before bedtime
6) Stay upright after meals rather than lying flat
Management of GORD?
1) Lifestyle changes
2) Reviewing meds e.g. stop NSAIDs
3) Antacids (e.g., Gaviscon, Pepto-Bismol and Rennie) – short term only
4) PPIs e.g. omeprazole and lansoprazole
5) Histamine H2-receptor antagonists (e.g., famotidine)
6) Surgery
Mechanism of PPIs?
Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) cause irreversible blockade of H+/K+ ATPase of the gastric parietal cell –> block gastric acid secretion
Adverse effects of long-term PPI use?
1) hyponatraemia, hypomagnasaemia
2) osteoporosis –> increased risk of fractures
3) microscopic colitis
4) increased risk of C. difficile infections
If a patient with endoscopically proven oesophagitis has no response after full PPI for 1-2 months, what is next step?
if no response then double-dose PPI for 1 month
If a patient with endoscopically proven oesophagitis does have a response after full PPI for 1-2 months, what is next step?
if response then low dose treatment as required
Complications of GORD?
1) oesophagitis
2) ulcers
3) anaemia
4) benign strictures
5) Barrett’s oesophagus
6) oesophageal carcinoma
What is surgical option for GORD?
laparoscopic fundoplication
What does laparoscopic fundoplication involve?
This involves tying the fundus of the stomach around the lower oesophagus to narrow the lower oesophageal sphincter.
Usual medical strategy when someone presents with GORD for the first time?
1) Exclude red flags
2) Address potential triggers
3) +/- endoscopy
4) Offer a 1 month trial of a proton pump inhibitor
5) Consider H. pylori testing.
What is H. pylori?
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative aerobic bacteria that can live in the stomach.
Complications of H. pylori in the stomach?
It causes damage to the epithelial lining, resulting in gastritis, ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer.
How does H. pylori cause damage?
1) It avoids the acidic environment by forcing its way into the gastric mucosa, using flagella to propel itself.
2) It creates gaps in the mucosa, exposing the epithelial cells underneath to damage from stomach acid.
3) H. pylori produces ammonium hydroxide, which neutralises the acid surrounding the bacteria
4) It also produces several toxins.
5) The ammonia and toxins lead to gastric mucosal damage.
Who should an H. pylori test be offered to?
anyone with dyspepsia