GI Medicine - Vomiting and Diarrhoea Flashcards
what does acute mean?
sudden onset
in what animals is acute vomiting and diarrhoea seen commonly?
dogs
what may acute vomiting and diarrhoea start with?
vomiting and progress through small to large intestinal diarrhoea
how does acute vomiting and diarrhoea often resolve?
usually self limiting
define emesis
vomiting
define haematoemesis
vomiting blood
define haemtochezia
fresh blood in/on faeces/diarrhoea (originates in large intestine)
define melaena
faecal passage of digested blood (stomach or small intestine origin)
define diarrhoea
increase in faecal water content
define tenesmus
straining to pass faeces
define dyschezia
difficulty passing faeces
define emetic
substance which stimulates vomiting
define anti-emetic
substance that inhibits vomiting
what is vomiting?
a complex, coordinated reflex reaction
what are the events of vomiting coordinated by?
the brainstem
does vomiting involve gastric contraction?
no
what are the 4 stages of vomiting?
prodromal (nausea)
retching
expulsion
relaxation
what occurs in the prodromal phase of vomiting?
nausea restlessness and agitation hypersalivation gulping lip licking
what is inhibited during the retching phase of vomiting?
salivation
what happens during the retching phase of vomiting?
simultaneous, uncoordinated, spasmodic contractions of respiratory muscles
duodenal retroperistalsis
mixing of gastric contents
what happens during the expulsion phase of vomiting?
pyloric contraction and fundic relaxation to move food into upper stomach
relaxation of proximal stomach and lower oesophageal sphincter
airway is protected
abdominal contraction and descent of diaphragm
initially during the expulsion phase of vomiting what is the tone like in the upper oesophageal sphincter?
high so that it remains closed
how is the airway protected during the expulsion phase of vomiting?
inhibition of breathing
coordinated closure of the glottis and nasopharynx to protect both aspects of the airway
how does abdominal contraction and the descent of the diaphragm lead to vomiting in the expulsion phase of vomiting?
stomach is squeezed and vomitus forced up (heaves)
oesophageal retro-peristalsis
reduced upper oesophageal sphincter tone
what muscles relax during the relaxation phase of vomiting?
abdominal
diaphragmatic
respiratory
what happens during the relaxation phase of vomiting?
muscles relax
glottis and nasopharynx open
breathing returns
describe small intestinal diarrhoea
large volume watery normal frequency normal colour melaena
describe large intestinal diarrhoea
small volume increased urgency and frequency tenesmus dyschezia \+/- mucous \+/- blood
what does ‘itis mean?
inflammation
define gastritis
inflammation of the stomach
define enteritis
inflammation of the small intestine
define colitis
inflammation of the large intestine
define gastro-enteritis
inflammation of the stomach and small intestine
define entero-coliitis
inflammation of the small and large intestine
define gastro-entero-colitis
inflammation of the stomach, small and large intestines
what questions must you ask about vomiting and diarrhoea when completing phone triage?
is vomiting productive or non-productive frequency - try to gauge fluid loss foreign body/material risk haematemesis/melaena diarrhoea - small or large intestinal
what questions must be asked about the patient generally when completing phone triage?
pre exisiting medical or GI disease or medication
worming history (especially with puppies and kittens)
recent change in diet
known scavenger - dietary indiscretion or FB ingestion
clinical demenour
appetite
drinking
other systemic signs
when should you advise a patient receives consultation following phone triage?
unproductive vomiting large loss of fluid haematemesis / melaena suspect FB inappetant / hypodipsic other systemic signs neonate any other concerns
what are the 3 main categories of acute vomiting and diarrhoea?
non fatal, often trivial, may or may not require specific treatment
severe and potentially life threatening
surgical
what are the causes of vomiting and diarrhoea that is non fatal, often trivial and may or may not require specific treatment?
dietary indiscretion
parasitism
enteric infection
adverse drug event
what are the causes of vomiting and diarrhoea that is severe and potentially life threatening?
pathogenic and enteric infections (e.g. parvovirus or bacterial) acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome acute pancreatitis intoxications surgical disease
what are the causes of vomiting and diarrhoea that are surgical?
intusussception GDV incarceration stricture/partial obstruction foreign body
what is the major problem seen with surgical GI dieases?
vomiting
what is intusussception?
telescoping of one intestine loop into another
in what animals is intusussception commonly seen?
young rather than old
what must be investigated regarding intusussception?
underlying cuase
what is incarceration?
loop of intestine becomes strangulated by the mysentry
what are the possible consequences of vomiting and/or diarrhoea?
dehydration
hypovolaemia
acid base disturbance
aspiration pneumonia
when is aspiration pneumonia particularly a risk for vomiting patients?
if sedated
neuromuscular disease
upper airway incompetency (e.g. laryngeal paralysis)
what are the diagnostic tests used for acute gastroenteritis?
history and physical exam
laboratory diagnostics
imaging
response to surgery or symptomatic treatment
what laboratory diagnostics may be used for acute gastroenteritis?
bloods - haematology, biochem and electrolytes
faecal - infectious disease testing
specific tests as required (e.g. cPLI or fPLI)
what will a pooled faecal sample test for?
parasitology and culture
what will a swab/faecal sample test for?
CPV
what is the cornerstone of management of acute vomiting and diarrhoea?
maintaining hydration
how may hydration be maintained in acute vomiting and diarrhoea patients?
IV fluids
oral rehydration solutions
what fluids are best used to maintain hydration in acute vominting and diarrhoea patients?
hartmanns with potassium
what is found within rehydration solutions?
glucose, electrolytes and glutamine
when will oral rehydration solutions be used to treat acute V+D patients?
if able to manage at home
what is usually sufficent for re-hydrating acute V+D patients if at home?
water
what is the dietary advice if acute vomiting is seen?
rest the gut (free access to water) for 24-36 hours before reintroducing an bland diet little and often
when should animals with acute vomiting be transferred back onto their normal diet following resting the gut?
over 2-5 days once bland diet tolerated
is resting the gut suitable for all patients?
no - neonates and diabetics are at risk of hypoglycaemia if they go without food
what is glutamine and why is it useful for acute V+D patients?
amino acid which supports enterocytes and helps them to function well
what is the dietary advice if the patient has diarrhoea?
feed throughout to nourish enterocytes
what risk is reduced by feeding through diarrhoea?
sepsis
what is the issue with needing to feed through diarrhoea in dogs?
most have concurrent vomiting
cosmetic issue as will produce more diarrhoea when eating
what is the main supportive/symptomatic management of acute V+D?
antiemetics
antispasmodics
antidiarrhoeals
what must be ruled out before anti emetics given?
obstruction
how do anti diarrhoeals work?
bind toxins and excess water as well as modifiying GI motility and secretions
what is often found in anti-diarrhoeals?
clay (kaolin)
how is acute vomiting and diarrhoea treated?
anthelmintics
antibiotics rarely indicated
pre and pro biotics
when will anthelmintics be given?
if puppy or kitten
if adult and not recently wormed
when should antibiotic use for treatment of acute V+D be considered?
if haemorrhagic diarrhoea
if pyrexic
what is the benefit of giving pre and pro biotics?
safer than unnecessary antibiotics
what drugs are always contraindicated for patients with vomiting and diarrhoea?
NSAIDs
what should happen if patients with acute V+D have pre-exisiting NSAID use?
consider that they could be the cause
withhold for the duration of V+D episode and restart when resolved
why are NSAIDs contraindicated for V+D patients?
inhibition of prostaglandins which are needed for maintenance of GI mucosal integrity and renal blood flow during hypovolaemic stress
what are prostaglandins required for?
maintenance of GI mucosal integrity and renal blood flow during hypovolaemic stress
what are prostaglandins required for?
maintenance of GI mucosal integrity and renal blood flow during hypovolaemic stress
when should you consider than the cause of gastroenteritis may be infectious?
neonates unvaccinated animal haemorrhagic diarrhoea pyrexia raw fed patient
what should happen to potentially infectious patients until any alternative diagnosis confirmed?
barrier nurse and isolate
what are the nursing considerations for acute V+D?
patient hygiene
environmental hygiene
kennel signage
what are the areas of patient hygiene that must be considered in V+D patients?
clean/dry bottom
avoid patient over grooming/rubbing
tail bandage
what are the areas of environment hygiene that must be considered in V+D patients?
waste disposed of appropriately
appropriate washing/disinfection of contaminated items
PPE
what are the 2 main types of gastrointestinal foreign body presentations?
no obstruction
obstruction
if the foreign body is smooth/small and gastric and not causing obstruction how should it be treated?
induce emesis
what drug is used to induce emesis in dogs?
Apomorphine
what drug is used to induce emesis in cats?
Xylazine
if the foreign body is non obstructive and intestinal how should it be treated?
natural passage with radiographic monitoring
if the foreign body is gastric but larger and not smooth but not causing obstruction how should it be treated?
endoscopic retrieval or surgery depending on size
what will happen to bones in the stomach?
will be dissolved by gastric acid in a few days
what can be done if the FB is a needle in the intestine?
feed high fibre diet
monitor for passage
how is an obstructive gastrointestinal FB treated?
surgery
what is gastric dilation?
acute dilation of the stomach
what is GDV?
acute dilation of the stomach with torsion of the stomach and twisted splenic pedicle
what is the effect of GDV?
impaired venous return (pressure on caudal vena cava)
compromised gastric mucosa
leading to shock and death
what is a key sign of GDV?
unproductive vomiting
how quickly must GDV be treated?
ASAP - is life threatening
what dogs are more likely to get GDV?
deep chested breeds
what is the cause of GDV?
not really known but may be: diet aerophagia delayed emptying of stomach due to pyloric blockage timing of exercise very soon after meal
how is GDV treated?
aggressive IVFT
immediate decompression of stomach
IV antibiotics
surgical correction
what can a bandage be useful for during GDV treatment?
placed between cheek teeth so that the dog can bite on something while having stomach tubed conscious
how is the stomach decompressed in GDV patients?
stomach tube if possible
needle paracentesis if not