GI Week 1 Flashcards
What is achalasia?
This is a disorder where the lower oesophageal sphincter fails to relax, leading to difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia). Given that the patient does not have dysphagia, this diagnosis is unlikely.
How does peptic ulcer disease arise?
Pathophysiology:
The mucosa, also known as the mucous membrane, is the inner lining of the stomach and duodenum.
It secretes mucus that coats the surface and forms a barrier that protects it from the stomach’s contents, particularly stomach acid and digestive enzymes.
It secretes bicarbonate into this mucus coating to neutralise the stomach acid.
Factors that disrupt the mucus barrier or increase stomach acid increase the risk of mucosal ulceration.
Which risk factors increase the chance of mucosal barrier disruption?
The risk key factors that disrupt the mucus barrier are:
Helicobacter pylori
NSAIDs
Which foods/drinks increase stomach acid production?
The risk key factors that increase stomach acid are:
Stress
Alcohol
Caffeine
Smoking
Spicy foods
Which medications increase the risk of bleeding from a peptic ulcer?
NSAIDs
Aspirin
Anticoagulants (e.g., DOACs)
Steroids
SSRI antidepressants
What are non-specific symptoms of peptic ulcer?
Epigastric discomfort or pain
Nausea and vomiting
Dyspepsia
What are signs of a Upper GI bleed?
Haematemesis (vomiting blood)
Coffee ground vomiting
Melaena (black, tarry stools)
Fall in Hb levels on a FBC
What blood test findings would be associated with chronic microscopic bleeding?
iron deficiency anaemia, with low Hb,
low mean cell volume (MCV) - microcytic anaemia
low ferritin.
How can laryngopharyngeal reflux present?
This variant of GORD typically results in symptoms related to the throat and voice box, like dysphonia, persistent cough, and the sensation of a lump in the throat (globus sensation)
What are the core aspects of treating peptic ulcers?
Stopping NSAIDs
Treating H. pylori infections
Proton pump inhibitors (e.g., lansoprazole or omeprazole)
According to guidelines, How is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) best described?
GORD is characterised by the guidelines as either endoscopically determined oesophagitis or endoscopy-negative reflux disease.
This definition acknowledges the spectrum of the condition: from those with visible oesophagitis on endoscopy to those who have symptoms suggestive of reflux but no visible changes on endoscopy
what is 1st line treatment of GORD?
The first-line approach to manage uncomplicated GORD in the UK, based on NICE guidelines, is to provide a 4-week trial of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) like omeprazole.
what cell type change is seen in Barretts oesophagus?
Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which there is an abnormal (metaplastic) change in the mucosal cells lining the lower portion of the esophagus, from stratified squamous epithelium to simple columnar epithelium with interspersed goblet cells that are normally present only in the small intestine and large intestine
Difference between osmotic and secretory diarrhoea?
Osmotic diarrhoea is due to the ingestion of poorly absorbed ions or sugars.
Secretory diarrhea is due to disruption of epithelial electrolyte transport.
Two ways to distinguish an osmotic from a secretory process is by the response to fasting and calculating the faecal osmotic gap.
How do we regulate the GI tract?
Gastric Motility - peristalsis aids in preventing pathogen colonisation (anticholinergics, antidiarrheals, narcotics - all reduce motility)
Osmotic diarrhoea - accumulation of sugars, salts or nutrients in the lumen from malabsorption, inflammation etc.
Secretory diarrhoea - secretion of fluid into lumen of intestine.
Symptoms of oesophagitis?
Symptoms:
Heartburn,
retrosternal pain (pain behind sternum)
belching,
bloating,
dysphagia
odynophagia (pain when swallowing)
What is oesophagitis?
Irritation of oesophageal epithelium due to acid leading to oesophageal inflammation
Could be due to infection or inflammation
why does oesophagitis cause asthma-like symptoms?
esophageal exposure to acid may result in decreased peak expiratory flow, thus increasing airway resistance. These responses may be reduced by atropine therapy. However, other researchers suggest that acid reflux may actually be a precursor of more severe bronchospasm with future triggers.
What is a Mallory-weiss tear?
A Mallory-Weiss tear is a tear of the tissue at the oesophago-gastric junction
It is most often caused by violent coughing or vomiting.
Main symptoms/risk factors of MW tear?
Abdominal pain and vomiting are primary symptoms
Risk factors include bulimia, alcohol xs and pregnancy
What is Boerhaaeve syndrome?
Effort rupture of the oesophagus, or Boerhaave syndrome, is a spontaneous perforation of the oesophagus that results from a sudden increase in intraesophageal pressure combined with negative intrathoracic pressure.
What is treatment for oesophagitis?
Treatment
Underlying cause – always. E.g fluconazole for fungal oesophagitis.
Avoid triggers –alcohol/caffeine/smoking.
Alginates- GAVISCON etc
PPI 2 month treatment for severe ,then maintenance
H2 receptor antagonists – famotidine
What is GORD?
Erosion of oesophageal tissue due to prolonged/excessive gastric acid
SHOULD PASS acronym for cases of GORD?
Sphincter/smoking
Hernia
Obesity
Ulceration
Lifestyle e.g. caffeine, late meals
Drugs e.g. NSAIDS, antidepressants, bisphosphonates
Pregnancy
Alcohol
Surgery
Sclerosis
GORD Symptoms
Heartburn
Regurgitaiton
Upper abdominal or chest pain.
Trouble swallowing (dysphagia)
Sensation of a lump in your throat.
What is a colicky pain?
Intestinal colic - intermittent cramp-like pain that may occur when the GI tract is blocked
Colicky abdominal pain can be the result of some sort of obstruction but is usually functional and secondary to irritable bowel syndrome.
What is cholecystitis?
inflammation of gall bladder due to gallstone blocking the cystic duct
Cholecystitis symptoms
Sharp RUQ pain
Postprandial pain (often worse with deep breaths) that spreads to your back or below the right shoulder blade -murphys sign
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
Jaundice
Loose, light-coloured bowel movements.
Belly bloating
What is cholangitis?
Acute bacterial infection of the bile ducts resulting from common bile duct obstruction.