GI investigations

Question 1

name some bedside investigations

Answer 1

> BMI
> Pulse oximetry
> ECG
> Capillary glucose
> Urinalysis

Question 2

what is FOB testing?

Answer 2

testing for terraces of blood in the stool, it is not that sensitive and so can give false reassurance

Question 3

name four types of stool analysis

Answer 3

> FOB testing
stool culture
faecal calprotectin
faecal elastase

Question 4

what would raised levels of faecal calprotein suggest?

Answer 4

that there is an inflammatory condition

Question 5

what is faecal elastase an investigation for?

Answer 5

pancreatic insufficiency/malabsorption

Question 6

what does calcium and magnesium levels indicate?

Answer 6

malabsorption

Question 7

why might you carry out a thyroid function test?

Answer 7

hypothyroidism can slow down bowl motility (and vice versa)

Question 8

what is looked at in a full blood count?

Answer 8

> microcytic and macrocytic anaemia
white cell count
platelet count

Question 9

why is coagulation investigated?

Answer 9

coagulation factors are made in the liver

Question 10

what is alpha fetoprotein?

Answer 10

tumour marker

Question 11

apart from bloods, stool and bedside investigations what other non invasive investigations are carried out?

Answer 11

> urine collections: 5HIAA, catecholamines
nutrition screen
laxative screen

Question 12

name some breath tests?

Answer 12

> urea breath test (H.pylori)
hydrogen breath test (bacterial overgrowth)
lactose intolerance

Question 13

what does oesophageal ph and manometry assess?

Answer 13

> oesophageal dysmotility

> reflux

Question 14

what does upper gi endoscopy allow for?

Answer 14

> examination
biopsy
therapeutic intervention
oesophageal/pyloric stenting

Question 15

what are the risks associated with upper gi endoscopy?

Answer 15

> aspiration
perforation
haemorrhage

Question 16

what does colonoscopy allow examination of?

Answer 16

rectum to caecum/terminal ileum

Question 17

what are the risks of colonoscopy?

Answer 17

> perforation
haemorrhage
renal impairment

Question 18

what does a colonoscopy require?

Answer 18

> sedation

> bowel preparation

Question 19

what does ERCP stand for?

Answer 19

endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography

Question 20

what does an ERCP allow visualisation of?

Answer 20

> ampulla
biliary system
pancreatic ducts

Question 21

what does ERCP allow for?

Answer 21

> biopsy
stone removal
stenting
dilation

Question 22

what are the risks associated with ERCP?

Answer 22

> pancreatitis
> haemorrhage
> perforation
> infection
> mortality

Question 23

what is endoscopic ultrasound used for?

Answer 23

diagnosis and staging, as well as cyst drainage and biopsy

Question 24

what does enteroscopy allow?

Answer 24

> visualisation of the small intestine
biopsy
therapy of small bowel pathology

Question 25

what are the pros and cons of capsule enteroscopy?

Answer 25

it is less invasive but biopsy is not available