GIT

Question 1

What are the symptoms of coeliac disease?

Answer 1

Steatorrhoea
Diarrhoea
Bloating
Abdominal Pain
N&V
Decreased weight
Fatigue
Failure to thrive
Anaemia
Weakness
Some have autoimmune conditions
Unexplained depression, anxiety....

Question 2

What are the symptoms of an upper GI bleed?

Answer 2

Haematemesis (blood?coffe-ground?)
Melaena - black tarry stool
Collapse/Anaemia
Abdo pain

Question 3

Causes of an upper GI bleed?

Answer 3

Gastric ulcers
Duodenal ulcers
Gastric erosions
Oesophageal varices
Mallory Weiss Tear (tear on gastric side of GO junction)
Oesophagitis
Rare - neoplasms
Idiopathic

Question 4

How do you manage an upper GI bleed?

Answer 4

1. Assess severity (Hb drop, pulse, BP, postural BP, INR, liver disease, age, co-morbidity
2. Give O2, IV access x2, IV fluids, G&S, NBM, transfuse blood or platelets, reassess (BP, urine output, Hb), then 3. Endoscopy
3. Use scoring system for re-bleed prediction
4. PPI?
5. Vasopressin in varices?