GI/ Liver Diseases Flashcards
What is the clinical presentation of GORD?
Acidic taste in mouth Regurgitation Heartburn Odynophagia Bad breath Bloating or nausea Reoccurring cough/hiccups
Briefly describe the pathology of GORD
Reflux occurs when acid moves into the oesophegus due to failure of the lower oesophageal sphincter. There is an increased mucosal sensitivity to gastric acids.
What are some risk factors for GORD?
Hiatus hernia
Certain foods and drinks (Citrus, fatty foods, spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine)
Large meals before bed
Certain medications (Aspirin, ibuprofen, muscle relaxers, blood pressure medications)
Being overweight
Pregnancy
Smoking
How is GORD diagnosed?
Certain diagnostic tests- gastroscopy, barium swallow
What is the epidemiology of GORD?
2-3x more common in men, 25% of adults experience heartburn
What are some natural treatments for GORD?
Changes to diet and times of meals Smoking cessation Raising head-end of bed Loose-clothing BMI management Medication review
What are some medications for GORD?
Antacids for mild cases
Proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole)
H2 receptor antagonists (Ranitidine)
What are some complications of GORD?
Barrett’s oesophagus which can develop into oesophageal cancer
Where is the appendix found?
McBurneys point= 2/3 of the way from the umbilicus to anterior superior iliac spine
What is the epidemiology of acute appendicitis?
- Most common surgical emergency
- More common in men aged 10-20 yrs
- Rare before age 2 because the appendix is wider like a cone
What are the causes of acute appendicitis?
- Faecolith (stone made of faeces) = Most common
- Lymphoid hyperplasia
- Filarial worms
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of acute appendicits
It occurs when the lumen of the appendix becomes obstructed by lymphoid hyperplasia, filarial worms, or a faecolith, resulting in the invasion of gut organisms into the appendix wall. If the appendix ruptures, then the infected and faecal matter will enter the peritoneum causing peritonitis
What is the clinical presentation of acute appendicits?
- Pain in umbilical region that then migrates to mcburneys point after afew hours
- Inflammation causes a colicky periumbilical pain
- Anorexia
- Nausea and vomitting (and occasionally diarrhoea)
- Constipation
- Tenderness with guarding
- Tender mass in right iliac fossa
- Pyrexia
- Rosving’s sign
How is acute appendicitis diagnosed?
CT= Gold standard
Blood tests= Raised neutrophils and other WBCs, Elevated CRP&ESRs
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Ultrasound= Can detect inflamed appendix and appendix mass
- Pregnancy test and urinalysis = exclude pregnancy and UTI
How is acute appendicitis treated?
Surgical= Appendicectomy laparoscopically
IV antibiotic pre-op= IV metronidazole and IV cefuroxime
If appendix mass is present= IV fluids and antibiotics over afew weeks, and then appendicectomy
What are the complications of acute appendicitis?
- Perforation= Commoner in faecolith
- Appendix mass: When an inflamed appendix becomes covered in omentum. Treat with antibiotics
- Appendix abscess: If appendix mass fails to resolve and instead enlarges. Drain and treat with antibiotics.
- Adhesions
What is a peptic ulcer?
A break in the superficial epithelial cells penetrating down to the muscularis mucosa on the duodenum or stomach
What is the epidemiology of peptic ulcer disease?
Duodenal ulcers affect approx 10% of adult population, and 2-3x more common than gastric ulcers. More common in elderly and in developing countries. Decline in incidence in men and increase in women
What are the causes of peptic ulcer disease?
H pylori infection, drugs (NSAIDs, steroids), increased gastric acid secretion, smoking, delayed gastric emptying, blood group O
Briefly explain how NSAIDs cause peptic ulcer disease
They inhibit cyclooxygenase 1 which is needed for prostaglandin synthesis. Prostaglandins stimulate mucous secretion- therefore NSAIDs= decreased mucosal defence
Briefly explain how H. pylori cause peptic ulcer disease
H pylori causes a decrease in duodenal bicarbonate, and secretes urease. Urease splits into CO2 and ammonia, which changes the pH. This causes damages to the mucosa, and causes gastrin secretion. There is therefore an inflammatory response.
What are some possible complications of peptic ulcer disease?
Massive hemorrhage, peritonitis, acute pancreatitis
How is peptic ulcer disease diagnosed?
If patient is under 55, do non-invasive h pylori testing (Serology, C urea breath test, stool antigen test)
Invasive testing = endoscopy (essential in all alarm patients and those over 55), histology, biopsy urease test
What is the clinical presentation of peptic ulcer disease?
- Recurrent burning epigastric pain in a specific point, typically occurs at night and is worse when hungry
- Nausea, anorexia and weight loss
How is peptic ulcer disease treated?
- Lifestyle: reduce stress, avoid some foods, reduce smoking
- Stop NSAIDs
- Triple therapy for H pylori= PPI (lansoprasole), Two out of metronidazole, bismuth, tetracycline, amoxicillin, clarithromycin
- H2 antagonists (ranitidine)
- Surgery if complications arise
What is the epidemiology of IBS?
- Age of onset under 40
- More common in females
- Common= Around 1 in 5 show symptoms
What are the main causes of IBS?
Depression, anxiety, psychological stress, trauma, GI infection, abuse, eating disorders
What are the 3 types of IBS?
- IBS-C = With constipation
- IBS-D= With diarrhoea
- IBS-M= With Both (mixed)
What are the risk factors for IBS?
- Female
- Previous severe and long diarrhoea
- High hypochondrial anxiety and neurotic score at time of intial illness
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of IBS?
Dysfunction in the brain-gut axis resulting in disorder of intestinal motility and/or visceral hypersensitivity
What are the clinical features of IBS?
- Non intestinal symptoms= painful period, urinary frequency, incomplete bladder emptying, urgency, nocturia, back pain, fatigue
- Abdominal pain, bloating and change in bowel habit
- Abdominal pain that is relieved by defecation or is associated with altered stool form/frequency
- 2 or more of: urgency, mucous in stool, nausea, incomplete evacuation
- Chronic symptoms and exacerbated by stress
What are the differentials of IBS?
Coeliac’s disease, Lactose intolerance, Bile acid malabsorption, IBD, Colorectal cancer
How is IBS diagnosed?
- Clinical features and ruling out differentials
- Faecal protectin= raised in IBD
- Colonoscopy to rule out IBD and colorectal cancer
- FBC for anaemia
- ESR&CRP for inflammation
- Coeliac testing (EMA and ETG)
- Rome III diagnostic criteria= abdominal pain plus 2 or more of change in stool frequency, change in appearance and improvement with exacerbation
What are the lifestyle treatments of IBS?
Dietary modifications= Low FODMAP diet
- In IBS-D= Avoid insoluble fibre
- In wind and bloating= Increase soluble fibre
- High water intake (avoid caffeine, fizzy drinks)
What are some pharmacological treatments for IBS?
- Pain/bloating= Antispasmodics
- Loperamides
- Constipation= Laxitives (Mavicol or Senna), or linaclotide if it has been over a year and no improvement with other treatments
- Diarrhoea= Anti-motility
- Tricyclic antidepressants can be used
- Psychological therapy
What is the epidemiology of ischaemic colitis?
- Older age group
- Related to atherosclerosis
- In young population it is associated with contraceptive pill, thrombophilia, and vasculitis
What are the risk factors for ischaemic colitis?
Contraceptive pill, thrombophilia and vasculitis
What are the main causes of ischaemic colitis?
- Thrombosis
- Emboli
- Decreased CO and arrhythmias
- Drugs e.g. oestrogen, ADH, Antihypertensives
- Surgery
- Vasculitis
- Coagulation disorders
- Idiopathic
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of ischaemic colitis
Occlusion of branch of SMA or IMA, often in the older age group. This is most commonly at the splenic flexure.
What are the clinical features of ischaemic colitis
Sudden onset at lower left side abdominal pain
Passage of bright red blood with/without diarrhoea
May be signs of shock and underlying cardiovascular disease
How is ischaemic colitis diagnosed?
- Urgent CT scan to exclude perforation
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy: biopsy shows epithelial cell apoptosis
- Colonoscopy and biopsy= GOLD STANDARD= done after patient has recovered to exclude stricture formation
- Barium enema
How is ischaemic colitis treated?
- Normally symptoms of treatment
- Fluid replacement
- Antibiotics to reduce infection risk
- Strictures are common :(
What is the epidemiology of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus?
Common in Ethiopia, China, S+E Africa
UK= 5-10 per 100000
Incidence is decreasing
More common in males
What are the causes of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus?
High levels of alcohol Achalasia Tobacco/ Smoking Obesity Low fruit, veg and fibre
What is the epidemiology of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus?
45% of oesophageal tumours
Incidence is increasing
What is the aetiology of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus?
Barrett’s oesophagus= Recurrent acid exposure causes squamous epithelium to be replaced by metaplastic columnar mucosa
Previous reflux increase risk by 8
What are the causes of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus?
Smoking/ Tobacco
GORD
Obesity
Barrett’s oesophagus
What are the risk factors for SSC& Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus?
Alcohol, Smoking, Obesity, Achalasia, Diet low in vit A&C, Barrett’s oesophagus
Where does squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus normally affect?
Upper 2/3 of the oesophagus
Where does adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus normally affect?
Lower 1/3 of the oesophagus
What is the clinical presentation of SSC& Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus?
- Often asymptomatic so when it is found it is V advanced
- Progressive dysplasia
- Weight loss, anorexia and lyphadenopathy
- Pain due to food impaction or infiltration
- If in upper 1/3 of oesophagus: hoarseness and cough
How is SSC& Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus diagnosed?
Oesophagoscopy with biopsy
Barium swallow
CT/MRI/PET for tumour staging
How is SSC& Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus treated?
Surgical resection combined with chemotherapy +/- radiotherapy
If locally incurable or metastatic then systemic chemotherapy
What is the epidemiology of benign oesophageal tumour?
1% of all oesopheageal tumour
Leiomyomas are more common
Also include papillomas, fibrovascular polyps, haemangiomas, lipomas
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of benign oesophageal tumour leiomas
Leiomas are smooth muscle tumours arising from the oesophageal wall. They are intact, well encapsulated and are within the overlying mucosa. Slow growing.
What are the clinical features of benign oesophageal tumour ?
- Usually asymptomatic, found incidentally
- Dysphagia
- Retrosternal pain
- Food regurgitation
- Recurrent chest infections
How is benign oesophageal tumour diagnosed?
- Endoscopy
- Barium swallow
- Biopsy
How is benign oesophageal tumour treated?
- Endoscopic removal
- Surgical removal of larger tumours
What is the epidemiology of gastric adenocarcinoma?
- More common in males
- Incidence increases with age
- Highest incidence in Eastern Asia, Eastern Europe and South America
- Incidence of adenoma is decreasing
What are the causes of gastric adenocarcinoma?
- Smoking
- H. Pylori infection
- Dietary factors
- Loss of P53 and APC genes
- Pernicious anaemia
What are the risk factors for gastric adenocarcinoma?
First degree relative with gastric cancer
Smoking
High salts and nitrates
Low fruit, veg and garlic in diet
Briefly explain how H.pylori can cause gastric adenocarcinoma
H. pylori causes acute gastritis, which can progress into chronic active gastritis. This causes atrophy, which can then develop into metaplasia, and then dysplasia
What are the two types of gastric adenocarcinoma?
- Intestinal= Well formed tumours with rolled edges. Often caused by H. Pylori
- Diffuse= Poorly undifferentiated cells that tend to infiltrate gastric wall. Worse prognosis
What is the clinical presentation of gastric adenocarcinoma ?
- Often v advanced at presentation
- Nausea, Anorexia and weight loss
- Vomitting is frequent and severe if tumour encroaches on the pylorus
- Dysphagia if in fundus
- Constant and severe gastric pain
- Anaemia if blood loss
- Symptoms if metastatis
- Palpable lymph nodes
How is gastric adenocarcinoma diagnosed?
- Repeated gastroscopy and biopsy to confirm histologically
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- CT/MRI
- PET scan for metastasis
How is gastric adenocarcinoma treated?
- Nutritional support
- Surgery and combination chemo; Epirubicin + Cisplatin + 5-Fluorouracil known as ECF chemo, and post op Radiotherapy
What is the epidemiology of small intestine tumour?
- Quite rare
- Adenocarcinoma is most common tumour of SI
- Lymphomas are most frequently found in ileum and are less common than adenocarcinomas
What are the risk factors for small intestine tumour?
Coeliacs and crohn’s disease
How is small intestine tumour treated?
- Surgical resection
- Radiotherapy
What are the clinical features of small intestine tumour?
- Pain, Diarrhoea, anorexia
- Weight loss
- Anaemia
- May be a palpable mass
How is small intestine tumour diagnosed?
- Ultrasound
- Endoscopic biopsy can histologically confirm
- CT: Small bowel wall thinning and lymph node involvement
What is the epidemiology of colorectal carcinoma?
- 3rd most common cancer worldwide
- Usually adenocarcinoma and majority occur in distal colon
- More common in males and those over 60
- More common in Western countries
How can you reduce risk of colorectal carcinoma?
- Veg
- Garlic
- Milk
- Exercise
- Low dose aspirin
What are the risk factors of colorectal carcinoma?
- Increasing age
- Obesity and diet= Low fibre diet, high sugar, saturated animal fat and red meat
- Colorectal polps, adenomas
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Ulcerative collitis
- Genetic predisposition: Familial adenomatous polyposis, lynch syndrome
What is the clinical presentation of colorectal carcinoma?
- The closer the cancer is to the outside, the more visible blood and mucous
- Right sided carcinoma= Usually asymptomatic until iron deficiency anemia, may have a mass, low haemoglobin, abdominal pain
- Left sided and sigmoid carcinoma= Change in bowel habits with blood/mucous
- Rectal carcinoma= Rectal bleeding and mucous, thinner stool and tenesmus
What are the 4 cardinal signs of colonic obstruction?
- Absolute constipation
- Colicky abdominal pain
- Abdominal distension
- Vomitting
How is colorectal carcinoma diagnosed?
- Faecal occult blood= Used in screening
- Tumour markers e.g. CEA
- Colonoscopy (Gold standard)= Allows for biopsy and removal of polyps
- Double contrast barium enema= Doesn’t require sedation and no risk of perforation
- CT colonoscopy
- MRI to determine spread
How is colorectal carcinoma treated?
- Surgery
- Endoscopic stenting- For palliation in malignant obstruction
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
- Polyp cancers are removed with colonoscopy
What is the normal pressure of the portal system?
- 5-8 mmHg
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of portal hypertension?
- Following liver injury and fibrogenesis, the contraction of activated myofibroblasts contributes to increased resistance to blood flow
- This leads to portal hypertension, which leads to splanchnic vasodilation, and a drop in BP
- This then leads to increased CO, so increased portal flow and formation of collaterals between portal and systemic system
What are the sites of collaterals between portal and systemic system?
- Gastro-oesophageal junction
- Rectum
- Left renal vein
- Diaphragm
- Retroperitoneum
What are the causes of portal hypertension?
- Pre hepatic= Portal vein thrombosis
- Intra-hepatic= Cirrhosis, schistosomiasis, sarcoidosis
- Post hepatic= Right heart failure, constrictive pericarditis, IVC obstruction
What are the clinical features of portal hypertension?
- Often asymptomatic, or only clinical sign being splenomegaly
- Chronic liver disease features= Haematemesis and malaena, clubbing, palmar erythema, dupuytren’s contracture, spider naevi
What is the epidemiology of chronic pancreatitis?
- Males affected more than females
- Median age of presentation is 55yrs
What are the main causes of chronic pancreatitis?
- Commonest cause in the developed world is long-term alcohol excess
- CKD
- Hereditary= defects in trypsinogen gene, cystic fibrosis
- Autoimmune pancreatitis
- Idiopathic
- Trauma
- Recurrent acute pancreatitis
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of chronic pancreatitis
- Obstruction or reduction in bicarb secretion causes an alkaline pH
- This causes activation of trypsinogen to trypsin
- This plugs pancreatic ducts, and is then calcified resulting in obstruction and pancreatic damage
How is chronic pancreatitis diagnosed?
- Serum amylase and lipase: may be elevated, but in advanced disease they may not be
- MRI with MRCP for more subtle abnormalities
- Abdominal ultrasound and contrast CT: detects calcification and a dilated pancreatic duct
- Faecal elastase will be abnormal
What are the clinical features for chronic pancreatitis?
- Epigastric pain that ‘bores’ through to the back: episodic or unremitting. Can be relieved by sitting forward. Exacerbated by alcohol
- Nausea and vomitting
- Decreased appetite and weight loss
- Exocrine dysfunction: malabsorption, steatorrhoea, protein deficiency
- Endocrine dysfunction: Diabetes
How is chronic pancreatitis treated?
- Alcohol cessation
- Abdominal pain: NSAIDS, opiates, tricyclic antidepressants
- Duct drainage
- Shock wave lithotripsy to fragment gallstones
- Steatorrhea: pancreatic enzyme supplements, PPI
What is the epidemiology of acute mesenteric ischaemia?
- Usually seen in over 50s
What are the causes of acute mesenteric ischaemia?
- SMA thrombosis (commonest)
- SMA embolism= due to AF
- Mesenteric vein thrombosis
- Non-occlusive disease
What are the clinical features of acute mesenteric ischaemia?
- Acute severe abdominal pain (constant, central or around right iliac fossa)
- No abdominal signs
- Rapid hypovolaemia resulting in shock- pale skin, weak rapid pulse, reduced urine output, confusion
How is acute mesenteric ischaemia diagnosed?
- Abdominal x ray= rules out other pathology
- CT/MRI angiography= Can see a blockage
- Laparotomy
- Bloods= increased Hb and WCC, persistant metabolic acidosis
How is acute mesenteric ischaemia treated?
- Fluid resuscitation
- Antibiotics e.g. IV gentamycin and IV metronidazole
- IV Heparin to reduce clotting
- Surgery to remove dead bowel
What are the complications of acute mesenteric ischaemia?
- Septic peritonitis
- Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
What is the epidemiology of large bowel obstruction?
- Accounts for 25% of all intestinal obstruction
What are the main causes of large bowel obstruction?
- 90% due to colorectal malignancy
- Volvulus in sigmoid colon
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of large bowel obstruction
- The colon proximal to the obstruction dilates
- Increased pressure and decreased blood flow
- Full thickness necrosis as well as perforation
- If it is do to a volvus, there is a twist resulting in a closed loop and increased pressure instead of an obstruction
What are the clinical features of large bowel obstruction?
- Abdominal pain that is more constant than in SBO. Usually in left iliac fossa
- Abdominal distension
- Bowel sounds are normal, then increased, then quiet later
- Palpable mass
- Late vomitting (later than SBO), early Constipation (earlier than in SBO)
- Nausea, fullness, bloating
How is large bowel obstruction diagnosed?
- Abdominal X ray= Peripheral gas shadows proximal to the blockage
- CT= Gold standard
- FBC= Low Hb
- Digital rectal exam
What is the epidemiology of small bowel obstruction?
- Accounts for 60-75% of intestinal obstruction
What are the main causes of small bowel obstruction?
- Adhesions (60% of SBOs) usually secondary to previous abdominal surgery
- Hernia
- Malignancy
- Crohn’s disease
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of small bowel obstruction
- Obstruction of the bowel leading to bowel distension
- Proximal dilation above the block, resulting in increased secretions and swallowed air in the small bowel. Also decreased absorption, and increased pressure
- Untreated, it leads to ischaemia, necrosis or inflammation
What are the clinical features of small bowel obstruction?
- Pain= initially colicky, then diffuse
- Profuse vomitting that follows pain= more rapid than LBO
- Less distension as compared to LBO
- Tenderness
- Constipation with no passage of wind
- Increased bowel sounds= Tinkling
How is SBO/LBO treated?
- Aggressive fluid resuscitation
- Bowel decompression= drip and suck
- Analgesia and antiemetic
- Antibiotics
- Laparotomic surgery to remove obstruction
How is small bowel obstruction diagnosed?
- Abdominal X ray: shows central gas shadows that completely cross the lumen and no gas in the large bowel
- Examination of hernia orifices and rectum
- FBC is essential
- CT= gold standard
What causes pseudo-obstruction?
- Intra-abdominal trauma
- Post operative states e.g. paralytic ileus
- Intra-abdominal sepsis
- Pneumonia
- Drugs e.g. opiates
What are the clinical features of pseudo-obstruction?
Patients present with rapid and progressive abdominal distention and pain
Identical presentation to SBO/LBO dependent on where the issue is
How is pseudo-obstruction diagnosed?
X ray shows a large, gas filled bowel
How is pseudo-obstruction treated?
Treat underlying cause
IV neostigmine
What is malabsorption?
- The failure to fully absorb nutrients either because of the destruction to epithelium or due to a problem in the lumen
What are the causes of malabsorption?
- Defective intraluminal digestion= pancreatitis, defective bile secretion
- Insufficient absorptive area= Coeliac disease, Crohns, giardia lambila, surgery
- Lack of digestive enzymes= Lactose intolerance, bacterial overgrowth
- Defective epithelial transport
- Lymphatic obstruction
How does pancreatitis cause malabsorption?
- There is damage to most of the glandular pancreas
- Less or no enzymes are released
How does coeliac disease cause malabsorption?
- Villi are very short if present at all sinse there is villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia
How does Crohn’s cause malabsorption?
- Causes inflammatory damage to the lining of the bowel resulting in cobblestone mucosa with significant reduction of absorptive surface area
How does Giardia lambila cause malabsorption?
- Extensive surface parasitisation of the villi and microvilli. Parasites coat the surface, so food cannot be absorbed.
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of lactose intolerance
- There is disaccharidase deficiency so cannot break down lactose in milk into glucose
- The undigested lactose passes into the colon where it is then eaten up by bacteria
- CO2 is released leading to wind and diarrhoea
What is the epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma?
- 5th most common cancer worldwide
- Accounts of 90% of live primaries
- Common in china
- More common in males
What are the risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma?
- Carriers of HBV and HCV have very high risk of developing HCC
- Associated with cirrhosis
What are the clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma?
- Weight loss and anorexia
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
- Ache in right hypochondrium
- Ascites
- Enlarged, irregular, tender liver