GI/Liver Assessment Flashcards
What are guidelines for NPO Status?
Balance risk of fasting against pulmonary aspiration
In “healthy patients” liberal fasting guidelines can be followed:
- No chewing gum or candy after midnight
- Sip of water or liquid pre-med up to 1 hour before OR
- Clear liquids up to 2 hours before OR
- Breast milk up to 4 hours before OR
- Light meal, milk, formula up to 6 hours before OR
- Fatty foods, fried foods, meats 8 hours or more
What patients considered an aspiration risk?
- Age extremes < 1 yr or > 70 yr
- Ascites (ESLD)
- Collagen vascular disease, metabolic disorders (Diabetes obesity, ESRD, hypothyroid, Ehlers- Danlos)
- Hiatal Hernia/GERD/Esophageal disorder
- Mechanical obstruction (pyloric stenosis, intestinal obstruction)
- Prematurity
- Pregnancy > 12 WEEKS
- Neurologic diseases
- Morbid obesity
- Severe pain/ anxiety
- Eaten food
- Trauma
- Appendicitis (“Acute/Hot Abdomen”)
- Achalasia (LES constantly constricted)
- Gastroparesis
- Nissen esophageal surgery* (any esophageal surgery)
Describe mendelson syndrome, the risk factors and manifestations associated with it?
- Chemical pneumonitis or aspiration pneumonitis
- Characterized according to:
- pH
- volume
- gastric material aspirated
- Characterized according to:
- Risk factors for aspiration sequelae include
- pH < 2.5
- Gastric volume of 0.4ml/kg (25 ml/70kg) (~ >20 ml fluid in stomach)
- Any acidic particulate matter aspirated
- → chemical pneumonitis (know volume, pH, acidic particulate matter)
- Manifestations:
- Respiratory distress with bronchospasm
- Cyanosis
- Tachycardia
- dyspnea
What are meds that can be given to prevent aspiration?
-
H2 Antagonists
- Cimetidine, Ranitidine and Famotidine (Pepcid) →(best result)
- Acts as competitive antagonist of histamine binding to H2 receptors on gastric parietal cells
- Reduces acid secretion
- ]Best if given the night before and repeated 45-60 minutes before surgery
-
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
- Dopamine antagonist
- Increases the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter and enhances GI motility which speeds gastric emptying
- Prevents or alleviates N/V
- Contraindicated in the presence of an obstruction
- Aspiration Prophylaxis
-
Sodium Citrate - Bicitra
- Non-particulate antacid
- Customary dose of 15-30 ml PO to raise gastric pH
- ~ if ends up aspirating, wont be as irritating to lungs
- Disadvantage: Increases gastric volume
- Give 15 minutes before surgery
- Lasts 1-3 hours
What is a hiatal hernia and s/s associated with the disease?
- Protrusion of portion of stomach through hiatus of diaphragm upward into thoradic cavity
- increased aspiration risk
- s/s
- retrosternal discomfort
- burning after meals
- reflux +/-
What are some symptoms that can be asked to the patient who presents to you in preop with GERD?
- Retrograde movement of gastric contents through the lower esophageal sphincter into esophagus
- Signs (mimic heart prob)
- Heartburn
- Noncardiac chest pain
- Dysphagia
- Pharyngitis, cough, asthma, hoarseness
- Signs (mimic heart prob)
- Treatment:
- Metoclopramide, H2 blockers, PPIs
- Aspiration risk
- High incidence of bronchospasm
What are the various causes of gastroparesis?
Partial paralysis of the stomach
Leads to prolonged food retention
Aspiration risk
- Vagus nerve- stomach contraction-injury
- Autonomic Neuropathy
- Diabetes- most common cause
- Connective tissue diseases
- Scleroderma
- Ehlers-Danlos
- Opioids
- slows food down in stomach
- Anticholinergics
What are Carcinoid Tumors? S/S of these?
- SLOW growing
- Commonly found in the GI tract (appendix), metastasis
- Can produce carcinoid syndrome or crisis (tumor secretes vasoactive substances)
- Normally → if substances secreted, goes to portal circulation and liver will take care of it
- If tumor in ovaries/lungs → wont go through portal circulation → *MASSIVE SYSTEMIC EFFECT*
- produced by the effects of hormones and substances secreted in the GI tract and systemic circulation
- bradykinin
- histamine
- serotonin
- dopamine
- S&S Carcinoid Syndrome
- cutaneous flushing
- diarrhea
- tachycardia, arrhythmias
- dyspnea, wheezing, bronchospasm
- hypotension
- hypertension
- orthostasis
- fibrosis of pulmonary and tricuspid valves
- right-sided valvular heart dz
• Pre-op test are guided by physical findings→ BIG WORKUP
What are some techniques you should consider when assessing a patient with a carcinoid tumor?
NO palpating abdomen
What are some preoperative testing that should be ordered on a patient with carcinoid tumor?
- CBC
- Electrolyte panel
- LFTs
- Blood glucose
- ECG
- Echo
- Urine 5-HIAA level
What are some preoperative Considerations for GI patient?
• Aspiration risk
- Prophylaxis and airway management considerations
- Bleeding anemia
- Nutritional deficits and/or electrolyte disturbances
- Pain control
- Medications: stress-dose steroids?
- If carcinoid tumor → cardiac workup needed? Hemodynamically stable?
Questions to ask pertaining to liver history?
- scleral icterus
- jaundice
- palmer erythema
- spider angiomata, petechiae, and ecchymosis
- easy bruising?
- pruritus or fatigue
- gynecomastia
- anorexia or weight changes
- N&V or pain with fatty meals
- Abdominal distention
- GI Bleeding
- hepatomegaly or splenomegaly
- dark urine
- recreational drugs/Alcohol
- current medications including herbals
- family history of jaundice and liver disease
- history of blood transfusions
- travel history
- Occupational history
What are some hepatotoxic drugs?
- Tyelnol
- Halodol
- Antibiotics- PCN, Bactrim, Tetracyclines, erythromycins
- Amiodarone
- NSAIDS
- Cancer drugs- methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, cisplatin
- Sulfonylurea
- THAANCS
- Dilantin
- cocaine
What will you see on physical exam for a patient with liver disease?
- General inspection (wt., vital signs, mental status)
- Exam patient’s hands, looking for:
- Koilonychia “spoon nails” → anemia
- Leukonychia- white spots on nails
- Palmar erythema- reddening of palms portal HTN
- Asterixis - profound hand tremor (jerking/flapping) hepatic encephalopathy
- Dupuytren’s contracture- increased risk with alcoholic cirrhosis (contracted hand)
- Gynecomasta
- Edema- dependent
- Jaundice
- Pallor
- Itching (puritis)
- KLAPeD GEJ PI
What are the functions of the liver?
- Liver is responsible for a LOT of compelex and interrelated functions:
- Reservoir of blood – 10 -15% of total blood volume
- Maintains normal clotting
- Mediator of endocrine functions
- Bilirubin excretion
- Metabolism
- Synthesis of proteins
- Immunologic function
- Pharmacokinetics
- Has a large functional reserve