GI Tract Disorders Flashcards
What normal physiological factors predispose infants to GE?
- Small stomach capacity
- Frequent large volume feedings
- Short esophageal length
- Supine position
- Slow swallow reflex
What are the sxs of gerd in infants?
- Frequent postprandial regurgitation
A. Most common sx
What are the sxs of gerd in OLDER CHILDREN?
- Regurgitation of stomach contents into throat
- Heartburn
- Dysphagia
What is the ddx for gerd?
- Important differentiating point in evaluating infants with GE
- Whether vomited material contains bile
A. If bile present, suspect intestinal obstruction
What dx studies are used for gerd in infants?
None, clinical dx
What dx studies are indicated for older children with gerd?
- Older children w/heartburn who have persistent sx’s when treated
A. UGI
B. Endoscopy
C. pH esophageal monitoring
How is gerd managed in infants?
- Reflux resolves spontaneously in 85% infants by 12 months of age
- Reduce sx’s w/ symptomatic measures
A. Smaller more frequent feedings
B. Thicken feedings with rice cereal
C. H2 antagonists or PPI’s reduce pain asst w/ reflux
How is gerd managed in older children?
- H2 blockers or PPI’s
- Weight reduction
- Dietary measures
Define colic
An otherwise healthy infant aged 2-3 months seems to be in pain
what is the rule of threes in colicky children?
- Cries for > 3 hrs /day
- Episodes occur > 3 days/week
- Episodes occur for > 3 weeks
What is the epidemiology of colic?
- Common in infants 2-3 months
- Commonly in late afternoon & early evening hours
- Anxious parents
What are the sxs of colic?
- Crying
- Abd pain
- Abd distention
- Irritability
- Knees drawn up
- Fists clenched
- Symptoms mimic intestinal obstruction
A. R/O organic Dz or obstruction
What is the treatment for colic?
- Eliminate cow’s milk
- Change to soy milk until 4 months of age
- Reassure parents
What are the strategies to manage colic?
- Change to soy-based formula
- Nursing other
A. Avoid milk-based products, caffeine - Frequent burping
- Change bottle nipple
- Ride in car
- Front carrier
- Pacifier
- Belly massage
9.Swaddling - Warm bath
- Simethicone (Mylicon) qtts
- Parental support
- Swing
What are the general considerations for a FB in the alimentary canal?
- Ingestion of non-food items accounts for 80% of documented foreign body ingestions
A. 80-90% of these pass spontaneously
B. 10-20% require endoscopic or surgical management
What are the mc fb ingested?
- Coins
- Batteries
- Buttons
Where do fb tend to lodge in the gi tract?
- Ingested FB tend to lodge in narrowed areas
A. GE junction, pylorus, ligament of Treitz, ileocecal junction
How soon should an esophageal fb be removed? What about batteries?
- Esophageal FB should be removed w/in 24 hrs to avoid ulceration
A. Disk shaped batteries in esophagus especially concerning
B. Should be removed immediately
C. Can cause thermal injury w/in 2 hrs
What objects usually pass spontaneously?
1. Smooth FB (buttons or coins) A. Usually pass spontaneously B. Monitor child without attempting removal 2. Objects with blunt end A. Straight pins, screws, nails B. Generally pass w/out incident
What objects need to be removed?
- Wooden toothpicks
A. Should be removed - Objects longer than 5 cm should be removed
What are the sxs of fb in the gi tract?
- Dysphagia
- Odynophagia
- Drooling
- Regurgitation
- Abd pain
- Maintain high degree of suspicion for toddler who presents with these sx’s
A. Even w/out witnessed ingestion
What is the treatment for a fb in the gi tract?
- Observation & monitor
- Endoscopic removal
- Surgery
Describe pyloric stenosis
Postnatal pyloric muscular hypertrophy with gastric outlet obstruction
What are the epidemiological trends regarding pyloric stenosis?
- Incidence 1-8 per 1000 births
- Male > female (4:1)
- FH: 13% cases
- Mean age @ Dx 43.1 days
What are the sxs of pyloric stenosis?
1. PP vomiting A. Usually begins @ 2-4 weeks of age B. Non-bilious projectile vomiting 2. Infants hungry & nurse frequently 3. Constipation 4. Weight loss 5. Distended upper abd after feeding 6. Palpable “olive” A. Oval mass with deep palpation in epigastrium B. Noted in 13.6% pts
What are the dx studies for pyloric stenosis?
1. UGI w/barium A. Delayed gastric emptying B. Long narrow pyloric channel C. “String sign” D. Filling defects in antrum 2. Ultrasonography A. “Target sign”
What is the treatment for pyloric stenosis?
- Treat dehydration & electrolyte imbalance before surgery
- Pyloromyotomy
A. Treatment of choice - Prognosis
A. Excellent
What are the general characteristics of intussusception?
- Most frequent cause of intestinal obstruction in first 2 yrs of life
- Male > females (3:1)
What is the etiology of intussusception?
- 85% cases: etiology unknown
- Some causes:
A. Adenovirus
-Recent studies show correlation
B. Meckel’s diverticulum
C. Small bowel polyp
D. Lymphoma: Children > 6 yrs
E. Parasites
F. FB
G. Hypertrophy of Peyer’s patches
-Small masses of lymphatic tissue in ileum
-AKA aggregated lymphoid nodules
What is the pathophys of of intussusception?
- Intussusception starts just proximal to ileocecal valve & extends into colon
A. Terminal ileum telescopes into colon
What are the complications of intussusception?
- Swelling
- Hemorrhage
- Vascular compromise
- Incarceration
- Necrosis
What is the typical scenario for intussusception?
- 3-12 month thriving infant develops recurring paroxysms of abd pain, screaming & drawing up knees
- Vomiting & diarrhea occur soon afterward
- Bloody bowel movements with mucus in next 12 hours
A. “Current jelly” stool - Sausage shaped mass in upper abd
What is the initial screening tool for intussusception?
KUB or abd ultrasound
What is the Ba or air enema used for?
- Both diagnostic & therapeutic for intussusception
2. If signs of strangulated bowel, perforation or toxicity, Ba enema contraindicated