GI System - Upper and stomach Flashcards
What is the purpose of the circular and longitudinal muscles of the pharynx?
Circular - constrict to push food into esophagus (bolus formation)
Longitudinal - lifts the walls of the pharynx during swallowing
What are the phases of swallowing and what nerves are involved?
Oral: pre-hend food and form bolus which moves to end of tongue (CN trigeminal V, facial VII, hypoglossal 12)
Pharyngeal: propel bolus along pharynx, closure of larynx by epiglottis and inhibition of breathing, opening of UES by cricopharyngeal m. (CN glossopharyngeal IX and accessory XI)
Esophageal: bolus moves along esophagus into stomach (CN glossopharyngeal IX and vagus X)
Your patient presents for dysphagia..
What are your top DDX?
Congenital - cricopharygnealachalasia or esophageal dysmotility
Neuromuscular - myasthenia gravis or brainstem lesions
Myopathy/myositis
Neoplastic or paraneoplasic
Infectious (uncommon)
- viral distemper or rabies
- bacterial abscess
- spirocera lupi
The main presenting complaint in your patient is dysphagia… what diagnostics would you do to find the cause?
Physical exam - watch patient eat and drink
Neurologic assessment — assess GAG or pharyngeal reflex (CN 9 and 10)
Assess pulmonary — aspiration pneumonia
Thin muscling of head — MMM (titers)
Nutrition status
MDB +/- thyroid Radiographs Fluoroscopy Acetylcholineseerase receptor antibody titer — MG Upper GI endoscopy MRI for brain stem lesions
What is the general management for dogs with pharyngeal disease?
Food and water consistency —> variable amongst patients (slurry vs meatballs vs solid food)
Elevate food and water dishes
Some need feeding tubes
Monitor for pneumonia
No neck leads —> use harness
What type of muscle makes up the esophagus in dogs and cats?
Dog - entire length is striated
Cat - distal aspect is smooth muscle
What are the layers of the esophagus
Epithelium Basement membrane Laminate propria Muscularis mucous Submucosa Muscularis propria Adventitia
What diagnostics can determine the presence of foreign body or compressive lesions?
Barium mixed with water or food (careful of aspiration)
Lohexol - injectable contrast agent
What diagnostic method can you use to evaluate swallowing phases and peristalsis?
Fluoroscopy
What is esophagitis?
Inflammation of the esophageal mucosa (can affect motility)
What are causes of esophagitis?
Secondary to meds (eg doxycycline)
Foreign bodies
Caustic toxins
Gastrointestinal reflux (GERD)
General anesthesia
Primary GI disease
What could you see with rads and endoscopy that indicates esophagitis?
Rads : unremarkable or a mild transient dilation
Endoscopy: erythema +/- edematous mucosa +/- ulcer or erosions
What is the treatment for esophagitis?
Pain management
- buprenorphine, codeine, fentanyl
- magic mouthwash = lidocaine, diphenhydramine, maalox
Mucosal protection
- sucralfate/carapace
- antacid (omeprazole PPI)
Monitor for strictures
Look for underlying dz
What are causes of esophageal stricture?
Trauma Neoplasia Post-foreign body Post-anesthesia Severe esophagitis
Treatment fo esophageal stricture?
Balloon catheterization — breakdown stricture
Esophageal diverticulae are secondary to??
Trauma
Congenital abnormalities (PRAA)
What is the treatment for esophageal diverticulae?
Clear impaction
Surgery
What is myasthenia gravis?
Antibody production against acetylcholine receptions at NM junction
Congenital or acquired megaesophagus
T/F: it is possible for congenital megaeosphagus to improve over time
True
What breeds do we see congenital megaesophagus in?
SharPei, fox terrier, German shepherd, lab, Great Dane, Irish setters, mini schnauzer, Newfie, and Siamese cats
<6months
What are causes of acquired megaesophagus?
Idiopathic
Primary CNS - brainstem lesion
Primary neuromuscular disease
Neoplastic syndrome ( thymoma)
Endocrine association
- hypothyroidism
- Addison’s disease
Lead toxicity (hunting or fishing dogs- evidence on blood work) LES stricture / dysfunction
What is the treatment of MG?
Underlying disease and symptoms
Nutritional support +/- feeding tubes
Decrease risk of aspiration pneumonia and treat PRN
Variable food consistency
- smaller more frequent meals
- elevated food dishes
What is the prognosis for megaesophagus ?
Fair to good when patients tolerated interventions or feeding tubes
Guarded to poor
- fulminant MG crisis
- severe aspiration pneumonia
- intractable regurg
What is the connection between the stomach and esophagus and prevents food from passing back?
Cardiac/esophageal sphincter
What is the connection between the stomach and duodenum?
Pyloric sphincter
What do you call food in the area of the duodenum that is a semi-solid, soapy mixture?
Chyme
What gastric juices are secreted into the stomach?
HCl Salts Enzymes Water Mucous
What are the layers of the stomach?
Gastric mucosa made of gastric glands and muscularis mucosae
Submucosa
Meissners plexus
Muscularis (3layers)
Auerbach (myenteric) plexus
Serosa
What are signals innervate the enteric nervous system?
Can function autonomously (sensory receptors, primary afferent, internurons, and motor neurons)
Also receives PSNS and SNS innervation from the central nervous system
Where is gastrin produced?
Gastric antrum, duodenum, and pancrease
What are the main physiologic actions of gastrin?
Simulate secretion of gastric acid and intrinsic factor from parietal cells
Simulate secretion of pepsinogen from chief cells
Promote gastric and intestinal motility, mucosal growth