GI tract Flashcards
What are some examples of congenital GI tract disorders?
- Cleft lip & plate
- Atresias (blockages of the tract)
- Stenosis (narrowing of the tract)
- Fistulas (abnormal opening)
What is GERD and how does it occur?
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Irritation of oesophageal lining from stomach acid from the lower oesophageal (cardiac) sphincter
- Barrett’s oesophagus can occur which is a serious complication
What are causes of GERD?
- External causes such as smoking, diet, medications
- Internal causes such as diminished oesophageal clearance, low saliva
How do you treat GERD?
Medication that lowers stomach acid production
What is gastritis and what forms are there?
Inflammation of gastric mucosa
- Acute gastritis - sudden, severe inflammation
- Chronic gastritis - long-term inflammation
What are erosive causes of gastritis?
Not often has significant inflammation but can still wear away at stomach lining
- Prolonged NSAIDs uses
- Alcohol, cocaine & radiation
- Traumatic injuries, criterial illnesses, severe burns, major surgery cause loss of blood/fluid to the gut
What are non-erosive causes of gastritis?
- Helicobacter pylor infection of stomach lining
- Autoimmune disorders
- Digestive diseases
- Viruses, parasites, fungi, & bacteria
How to diagnose gastritis?
- Endoscopy with a biopsy of stomach OR - X-ray - Blood test for anaemia from chronic bleeding - Stool test for blood - Test for H. pylori
What is treatment for gastritis?
Medications that reduce stomach acid to relieve symptoms and promote healing
Including:
- Antacids to neutralise acid
- Histamine blocker to lower acid production
- Proton pump inhibitor (PPI’s) more effectively lower acid production
Remove/reduce cause of gastritis - NSAIDs
What are complications of gastritis?
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Gastric polys
- Benign & malignant gastric tumours
- People with H. pylori & autoimmune gastritis can develop atrophic gastritis which destroys cells of stomach lining leading to cancer
What are peptic ulcers?
Lesions in the gut lining of stomach, duodenum or oesophagus
How does ulcer occur?
- When lining of organ is corroded by acidic gastric juices from stomach cells
- Associated with H.pylori
- Often includes hypergastrinemia (increased gastrin production)
What are gastric ulcers?
- Peptic ulcers in the stomach
- Can bleed therefore presence of blood in vomit or stool indicate ulcer
- If intreated can perforate
What are duodenal ulcers?
- Peptic ulcers in the duodenum
- Most common
- Hyper secretion of acid & pepsin which enters duodenum
- Lower bicarbonate production by pancreas
What are oesophageal ulcers?
- Peptic ulcers in the oesophagus
- Result of gastric reflux
- Least common
- Onset fast due to unprotective oesophagus lining
What is pancreatitis?
- When proteolytic enzymes inappropriately activated before leaving the pancreas which leaks into interstitial space
- Causes inflammation, haemorrhage, fat necrosis of pancreatic fat, pancreatic necrosis
- Presents with abdomen pain, nausea, fever, vomiting
- 1 in 1000 incidences
- Can be fatal
What is acute pancreatitis?
- Increased serum amylase & lipase levels
- Enzymes release inflammation & oedema in retroperitoneum (local damage)
What are signs & symptoms/side effects of acute pancreatitis?
- Shock, decreased vascular resistance, decreased oxygen, lung damage, renal failure, hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia
What are causes of acute pancreatitis?
Gallstones block common duct or alcohol abuse
What is chronic pancreatitis?
Permanent damage with fibrosis causing loss of functioning pancreatic tissue
What are causes of chronic pancreatitis?
Mostly due to alcoholism where calcification of pancreatic ducts plugs the ducts
What are signs & symptoms/side effects of chronic pancreatitis?
- Chronic but mild abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea in late stages
- Weight loss due to systemic malabsorption from over 90% of pancreatic secretion lost
What is coeliac disease?
- Gluten sensitivity
- Hypersensitivity reaction to wheat, rye, barley from genetic cause
- T-cell medicated autoimmune injury of intestinal epithelial cells