GI Tract Flashcards
What might cause inflammation of the GI react?
Gastritis, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease
What causes perforation of the GI tract?
Peptic ulcer, tumours
What causes neoplasia?
Colorectal tumours, gastric carcinomas
What causes obstruction in the GI tract?
Tumours, gall stones, hernia
What causes malabsorption in the GI tract?
Coeliac disease, chronic pancreatitis
What causes infarction of the GI tract?
Atheroma, thrombosis
What causes structural abnormalities
Diverticular disease of the colon
What is colicey pain?
Waves of pain caused by obstruction in GI tract
What is coffee group vomiting?
Coming of partly digested blood
What is black and Tarr-ey faeces called?
Malina
Are CT scans or ultrasounds used for diagnostic examination of the GI tract?
Both
What is a laparoscopy?
Key hole surgery to look inside abdomen
What can a FBC tell you in GI investigation?
Raised wbc = infection
Low haemoglobin =bleeding
What can urea and electrolytes tell you in GI investigation?
Vomiting and diarrhoea often lead to dehydration and electrolyte deficiency
What is the function of the pancreas?
To release enzymes and digestive juices into the small intestine to further breakdown food.
What does pancreatitis present with?
Sever abdominal pain, tenderness and vomiting
What are the major risks for pancreatitis?
Gall stones and alcohol abuse
What two tests would you do for suspected pancreatitis?
Serum amylase and serum lipase
Which is a more sensitive test amylase or lipase?
Lipase is more sensitive and remains elevated for longer
Levels of what amount are almost diagnostic of acute pancreatitis?
Levels >10 X the upper limit of the reference range (ULRR)
In what other conditions could you get raised serum amylase and serum lipase?
Biliary tract disease
Intestinal infarction
Perforated peptic ulcer
How do you treat acute pancreatitis?
Treat underlying cause - remove gall stones
What are the 3 most common sites for GI tumours?
Colorectal
Gastric
Oesophageal
What are presenting features for upper GI cancers?
Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, bleeding, deranged liver function test due to metastasis
Presenting features for colorectal cancer
Bleeding- fresh blood per rectum or anaemia due to chronic bleeding
Altered bowel habit
Deranged liver function due to metastasis
If a patient comes in with microcytic hypochromic anaemia what must you dismiss?
GI bleeding
What is the FOB test?
Faecal Occult Blood test - 3 stools on separate days