GI - GORD, PUD, IBD, IBS, Coeliac Flashcards
GORD - what is it?
Acid from stomach refluxes up through lower oesophageal sphincter and irritates lining of oesophagus
GORD - what epithelium lines the oesophagus?
Squamous - sensitive to stomach acid
GORD - what epithelium lines the stomach?
Columnar - more protected against stomach acid
GORD - what is the classic clinical presentation?
Retrosternal or epigastric pain Heartburn Acid regurg Bloating Nocturnal cough Odynophagia - painful swallowing
GORD - when is heartburn worst?
After meals
Lying down or bending forward
GORD - diagnosis and investigations
GORD is a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms
There are red flag symptoms - consider upper GI endoscopy in this case
GORD - what are the red flag symptoms to consider upper GI endoscopy?
- Weight loss
- Anaemia
- Dysphagia
- New onset Dyspepsia >55 years
GORD - what investigations can be done if diagnosis is uncertain?
pH monitoring - combined with gastroscopy
GORD - what are the reflux phenotypes
- Erosive oesophagitis - erosions seen on gastroscopy
- Non-erosive oesophageal reflux - normal gastroscopy, but pathological acid exposure on pH test
- Acid hypersensitive oesophagus - normal gastroscopy, non-pathological acid exposure on pH test, but temporal association of reflux events with symptoms
- Functional heartburn - normal gastroscopy, non-pathological acid exposure on pH test, and no temporal association of reflux events with symptoms
GORD - what is the management? (conservative, medical, surgical)
Conservative:
- Weight loss
- Smoking cessation
Medical:
- PPIs, Omeprazole, Lansoprazole - PPIs reduce acid secretion by inhibition of H+/K+ATPases in parietal cells
- Ranitidine, alternative, H2 receptor antagonist
Surgical:
Nissen fundoplication - tying fundus of stomach around lower oesophagus to narrow LOS
GORD - what is the major complication of constant reflux, and what happens?
Barretts Oesophagus
Constant relux in oesophagus causes metaplasia
Metaplasia is the change in epithelium
So oesophagus goes from squamous to columnar
This change to columnar is called Barretts oesophagus
GORD - why does Barretts oesophagus have to be monitored?
Considered premalignant condition
RF for developing adenocarcinoma
So monitored regularly by endoscopy
GORD - what is the treatment of Barretts oesophagus
Medical:
PPIs, omeprazole
Aspirin - new evidence, not in current guidelines yet
Surgical:
Ablation treatment during endoscopy - destroys epithelium, so replaced with normal squamous cells, prevents progression of cancer
Peptic Ulcer - what are they?
Ulceration of the mucosa of the stomach or duodenum
Peptic Ulcer - why does it occur?
Protective layer in stomach and duodenum - comprised of mucus and bicarbonate secreted by stomach mucosa
This LAYER GETS BROKEN DOWN by medications (steroids, NSAIDs) and H.Pylori
OR
INCREASE IN STOMACH ACID, which can result from: Alcohol Smoking Spicy food Caffeine Stress
Peptic Ulcer - what are the symptoms?
Epigastric pain or discomfort
N+V
Bleeding causing HAEMATEMESIS - coffee ground vomiting
Melaena
Iron deficiency anaemia - due to constant bleeding
Peptic Ulcer - how does eating affect gastric and duodenal ulcers?
Eating makes gastric ulcers pain WORSEN
Eating makes duodenal ulcers pain IMPROVE
Peptic Ulcer - what is the hallmark triad of PUD?
- Epigastric pain
- Heartburn
- Dyspepsia
Peptic Ulcer - what are the two acute, severe complications of PUD, and how do they present?
- Acute upper GI bleed (UGIB):
Haematemesis and/or melaena
Features of shock could be present - Perforation ‘acute abdomen’:
Acute severe abdo pain
Localised or generalised guarding
Ulcer creates hole, fluid leaks out into peritoneum causes peritonitis
Peptic Ulcer - what is the definitive diagnosis technique?
Endoscopic examination
Peptic Ulcer - What are the investigations that can be done?
Bedside:
Obs
H.Pylori testing
Bloods:
FBC - may show iron def anaemia
LFTs - biliary pathology or gallstones, could be differential
Peptic Ulcer - during an endoscopic exam, what tests are done and why?
Rapid urease test (CLO test) - check for H. Pylori
Biopsy during endoscopy - exclude malignancy
Peptic Ulcer - what is the stepwise management?
Patients who test POSITIVE FOR H.PYLORI offered eradication therapy
If positive for H.Pylori, then assessed to see if there is association with NSAIDs
No association with NSAIDs - 1st line eradication therapy
Association with NSAIDs - 2 months full dose PPI, then given 1st line erad therapy
Patients who test NEGATIVE FOR H.PYLORI - 4 to 8 weeks full dose PPI
Peptic Ulcer - what is the 1st line eradication therapy course?
Given 7 day course of triple therapy - PPI and dual antibiotic therapy
Non-penicillin allergy
- PPI
- Amoxicillin
- Clarithromycin/metronidazole
Penicillin allergy:
- PPI
- Clarithromycin
- Metronidazole
Crohn’s Disease - what is it?
Chronic inflammatory disorder
Affect any part of GI tract, mouth to anus
Crohn’s Disease - aetiology
Thought to be an abnormal immunological response to one or more aetiological factors within a genetically susceptible individual
Aetiological factors include:
Genetics
Immune system
Environment
Crohn’s Disease - what are the pathophysiological changes that occur?
C - Cobblestone appearance, MAC R - Rosethorn ulcers, MAC O - Obstruction H - Hyperplasia (lymph nodes), MIC N - Narrowing (lumen), MAC S - Skip lesions
Macroscopic change - seen in endoscopy (MAC)
Microscopic change - seen on histology (MIC)
Crohn’s Disease - is superficial or full thickness of mucosa affected?
Transmural, full thickness, inflammation
Crohn’s Disease - What are the symptoms?
Low-grade fever N+V Abdo pain Weight loss Diarrhoea Rectal bleeding
Crohn’s Disease - what are the signs?
Pyrexia Angular stomatitis Aphthous ulcers Tachycardia Hypotension Dehydration