gi tract conditions Flashcards
what is gastro-esophageal reflux? (acid reflux)
a condition in which stomach acid repeatedly flows back up into the tube connecting the mouth and stomach, called the esophagus. It’s often called GERD for short. This backwash is known as acid reflux, and it can irritate the lining of the esophagus.
what are symptoms of acid reflux?
A burning sensation in the chest, often called heartburn. Heartburn usually happens after eating and might be worse at night or while lying down.
Backwash of food or sour liquid in the throat.
Upper belly or chest pain.
Trouble swallowing, called dysphagia.
Sensation of a lump in the throat.
If you have nighttime acid reflux, you also might experience:
An ongoing cough.
Inflammation of the vocal cords, known as laryngitis.
New or worsening asthma.
what causes acid reflux?
when the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus doesnt relax, stomach acid can flow back into the esophagus. this can cause the esophagus to become inflammed
what are some conditions which can increase the risk of acid reflux?
obesity,
bulging of the top of the stomach above the diaphragm (hital hernia)
pregnancy
connective tissue dissorders such as scleroderma
delayed stomach emptying
what are factors which can aggravate acid reflux?
Smoking.
Eating large meals or eating late at night.
Eating certain foods, such as fatty or fried foods.
Drinking certain beverages, such as alcohol or coffee.
Taking certain medicines, such as aspirin.
what treatments are used for acid reflux?
Prescription-strength proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) work by inhibiting certain stomach cells from “pumping” acid into the stomach
H2 blockers which provide relief from indigestion, stomach pain, heart burn and reflux, nausea and vomiting and sour stomach
what is Mallory Weiss tear?
a split in the inner layer of your esophagus caused by forceful vomiting, retching or straining- causing bleeding. occur near where the esophagus meets the stomach
what are symptoms of mallory weiss tears?
the most common symptom is vomiting blood
other symptoms are:
dark sticky tools,
dizziness,
fainting.
what are the complications of mallory weiss tars?
if untreated can cause:
amnemia (deficiency of healthy red blood cells), fatigue and shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal or chest pain.
If the tear is severe and internal bleeding occurs, you may experience symptoms of shock such as:
Anxiety or agitation.
Dry mouth or thirst.
Nausea.
Pale, cold and clammy skin.
Rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations.
what is the treatment of mallory weis tears?
h2 receptor blockers-which provide relief from indigestion, stomach pain, heart burn and reflux, nausea and vomiting and sour stomach
proton pump inhibitors- Decrease stomach acid production
Relieve symptoms of chronic acid reflux (GERD) and stomach ulcers
Self limiting in 80-90% of cases (stop bleeding and heal on its own)
injection or a heat treatment to stop bleeding
Surgical repair (rare)
what is the diagnosis of mallory weiss tear?
sign & symptoms
stool test
upper GI endoscopy
what is hiatus hernia?
A hiatus Hernia is when part of the stomach moves up through a small opening (hiatus) in the diaphragm into the chest.
A hernia is when any organ or tissue pushes through a weakness in the tissue barrier that normally contains it.
what are the 4 types of hital hernias?
type 1- mst common. the part of your esophagus that connects to your stomach slides up through the widened hiatus at times and then slides back down.
type 2-the upper part of your stomach pushes up through the hiatus alongside your esophagus, forming a bulge next to it. This is also called a rolling hiatal hernia.
type 3- mix of type 1 and 2.The part of your esophagus that connects to your stomach — the gastroesophageal junction — slides up through the hiatus at times. And another part of your stomach also bulges through, alongside the gastroesophageal junction at times.
type 4-The hernia involves your stomach together with another abdominal organ, such as one of your intestines, your pancreas or your spleen.
what are the risk factors of a hiatus hernia?
age-related changes in diaphragm (common over 50)
pregnancy
obesity
exercising and heavy weight lifting
persistence and intense pressure on surrounding muscles caused by severe coughing, vomiting, straining during the bowel movement
what are the signs and symptoms of hiatus hernia?
Heartburn (GORD) (painful burning sensation in the chest often after eating) due to acid reflux
shortness of breath
regurgitation of food or liquid into mouth
burping and feel bloated
feeling full soon after eat
nausea and vomiting
dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
vomiting of blood or passing of black stool
what is the treatment of hiatus hernia?
life style changes
- change eating habits
- avoid lying down at least 3 hours after eating or drinking
- stop smoking
teating GORD symptoms
keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) in severe cases (in case of paraoseophageal hernia
what is the diagnosis of hiatus hernia?
xray, endoscopy
what is achlorhydria?
reduction in stomach acid and pepsinogen secretion.
It’s a more severe form of a hypochlorhydria, a deficiency of stomach acids. Both conditions can impair the digestive process and lead to damage of the gastrointestinal system. Without stomach acid, your body won’t properly break down protein.
what are symptoms of achlorhydria?
iron deficiency anemia- without stomach acids the body will have issues absorbing iron
abdominal bloating
indigestion
nausea
acid reflux
digestive issues
diarrhea
weak, brittle nails
hair loss
undigested food in stools
what are the causes of achlorhydria?
gastric muscosal atrophic- the process of chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa of the stomach.
hypothryoidism- slows down your metabolism, resulting in a decrease of gastric acid production.
what are the treatments from achlorhydria?
infection- antibiotics
nurtitional supplements.
what are peptic ulcers?
open sores on the inner lining of the stomach and upper part of the small intestine.
peptic ulcers include:
Gastric ulcers, which appear on the inside of the stomach.
Duodenal ulcers, which appear on the inside of the upper part of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
what are the symptoms of peptic ulcers?
Dull or burning stomach pain. For some people, pain may be worse between meals and at night. For others, it may be worse after eating.
Feeling of fullness or bloating.
Belching.
Heartburn.
Nausea.
peptic ulcers can cause bleeding from the ulcer the symptoms may include:
vommiting blood,
having dark blood in stools,
feeling dizzy or fainting
what are the causes of peptic ulcers?
Peptic ulcers happen when acid in the organs that food travels through, called the digestive tract, eats away at the inner surface of the stomach or small intestine.
helicobacter pylori- a germ living in the mucous layer that covers and protects tissues that line the stomach and small intestine.can cause swelling and irritation, called inflammation, of the stomach’s inner layer. When this happens, it can cause an ulcer.
regular use of certain pain relievers: taking asprin or anti flammatory drugs can irrate or infame the lining of the stomach and small inestine
what are complications of a peptic ulcer?
bleeding in the stomach or duodenum,
a hole called a perforation in the stomach wall,
blockage,
stomach cancer
what are treatments used for peptic ulcers?
antibiotics to kill h pylori,
medicanes that block acid, (Acid blockers, also called histamine (H-2) blockers, help relieve ulcer pain and help with healing.)
medicanes to reduce stomach acid, (PPIs allow the petic ulcers to heal)
Medicines that protect the lining of the stomach and small intestine.
what is gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a condition in which the muscles in the stomach don’t move food as they should for it to be digested.
what are the symptoms of gastroparesis?
Vomiting.
Nausea.
Belly bloating.
Belly pain.
Feeling full after eating just a few bites and long after eating a meal.
Vomiting undigested food eaten a few hours earlier.
Acid reflux.
Changes in blood sugar levels.
Not wanting to eat.
Weight loss and not getting enough nutrients, called malnutrition.
what causes gastroparesis?
not always clear but sometimes damage to a nerve that controls the stomach muscles can cause it- vagus nerve
what are the risk factors of gastropariesis?
Diabetes.
Surgery on the stomach area or on the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, called the esophagus.
Infection with a virus.
Certain cancers and cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy to the chest or stomach.
Certain medicines that slow the rate of stomach emptying, such as opioid pain medicines.
A condition that causes the skin to harden and tighten, called scleroderma.
Nervous system diseases, such as migraine, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.
Underactive thyroid, also called hypothyroidism.
what are the complications of gastroparesis?
loss of body fluids- dehydration due to vommiting
malnutrition
food that doesnt digest that hardens and stays in the stomach,
blood sugar changes
what is the treatment of gastroparesis?
changes to your diet,
medications to help the stomach muscles work (Metoclopramide).
medicines to control nausea and vomiting.
feeding tube through the nose or mouth directly into the small intestine
how is gastroparesis diagnosed?
Gastric Emptying Study (GES) using radioactive material traced by a scanner
Upper endoscopy
Barium x-rays
Wireless motility capsules (SmartPill)
what is jaundice?
why does it happen
when your skin and the whites of your eyes (mucous membranes) turn yellow.
this is when the liver is unable to process bilirubin (a yellow substance made when red blood cells break down) in your blood. caused byy too much red blood cell breakdown or liver injury.
what causes jandice?
prehapatic jaundice- to much red blood cell breakdown take over your livers ability to filter out bilirubin from your blood.
hepatic jaundice- during the production of bilirubin. This type happens when your liver can’t remove enough bilirubin from your blood. Hepatic jaundice can happen if you have liver failure.
posthepatic jaundice-Also called obstructive jaundice, this type happens when a blockage stops bilirubin from draining into your bile ducts.
