GI reflux Flashcards
What is Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease?
Reflux of the stomach contents (acid +- bile) into the oesophagus causes symptoms of >2 heartburn episodes per week and/or complications.
what causes GORD?
- Lower esophageal sphincter hypo tension
- Hiatus hernia
- Loss of oesophageal peristaltic function
- Gastric acid hyper-secretion
- Slow gastric emptying
- Abdominal obesity
What factors predispose GORD?
- Over eating
- Pregnancy
- smoking
- Drugs -> tricyclics, anti-cholinergic, nitrates.
What are the main symptoms?
- Heart burn
- Acid or bile regurgitation
- water brush (increase salivation in mouth)
- Belching
- odynophagia
what is heart burn?
Burning, retro-sternal discomfort after meals, lying down, stooping or straining. It is relived by antacids.
What is odynophagia?
painful swallowing due to oesophagitis or ulceration
what are extra-oesophgeal symptoms?
- nocturnal asthma
- chronic cough
- laryngitis (hoarseness, clearing)
- sinusitis
Why can you sometimes get nocturnal asthma and cough?
They occur when the gastric contents have been aspirated into the lungs.
what are the complications of GORD?
- oesophagitis
- ulcers
- benign stricture
- iron deficiency
- Barrett’s oesophagus
what is a benign stricture?
It is the narrowing/ tightening of the oesophagus that causes swallowing difficulties. It presents with gradually worsening dysphagia. It is treated with endoscopic dilation and PPI therapy
What is Barrett;s oesophagus?
Abnormal columnar epithelium (red colored) replace the squamous epithelium (pale, glossy) that line the distal oesophagus. It is diagnose by endoscopic appearance and biopsies. It is pre-malignant. It is treated with PPI and oesophagus surveillance every 2 years with multiple biopsies.
Differential diagnosis?
- oesophagitis from corrosives, NSAID’s, herpes.
- duodenal/ Gastric ulcers.
- non-ulcer dyspepsia
- sphincter of oddi malfunction.
5, cardiac disease
How to diagnose GORD?
Diagnosis is clinical and most people are treated without investigations.
When should an endoscopy be done?
- if have symptoms ? 4wks
- persistent vomiting
- GI bleeding
- palpable mass.
- age >55
- dysphagia
- symptoms despite treatment
- relapsing symptoms.
If endoscopy is normal, what other investigation can confirm GORD as a diagnosis?
pH monitoring +- manometry