GIT & LIVER DISORDERS Flashcards
Common presentation of abd pathologies
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Abd Pain
Malnutrition
Common presentation of hepatic pathologies
Distension
Jaundice
Itching
Ascites
Most common GI related causes of vomiting in neonates and infants
Overfeeding
How to find if overfeeding is the cause of vomiting
Plot the weight on a chart
Presentation of tracheo- esophageal Fistula
Frothing of saliva
Coughing while feeding
Recurrent aspiration
Ix of tracheo- esoph fistula
NG tube through the nose. Take an X- Ray. NG tube coiling
Mx of tracheo- esoph fistula
Keep the child NBM
Frequently suck out secretions
Give IV fluids
Refer to a GI surgeon
Antenatal clues of tracheo- esoph fistula
Polyhydramnios
Duodenal atresia DDD?
Duodenal atresia
Double bubble appearance
Down Xd
Nature of vomiting in duodenal atresia
Bilious vomiting
Non- projectile
Onset of duodenal atresia
From day 1 of birth
Is abdominal distension seen in duodenal atresia
No
Corrective surgery in duodenal atresia
Cut the narrow segment and do an end-to-end anastamosis
Ix of duodenal atresia
Double bubble appearance on Abd X- Ray
Volvulus presentation
Present with bilious vomiting, abd distension, intermittent crying
nature of vomiting in volvulus
bilious vomiting
Ix of volvulus
USS Abd
Mx of volvulus
Keep the child NBM
NG tube
IV fluids
Surgical referral
Complications of volvulus
The twisted part could die.
Have to be resected.
At risk of short bowel Xd
Complications of short bowel Xd
Malnutrition
Low weight
Vitamin deficiencies
(T/F)
1.Pyloric stenosis is mostly seen in boys.
2. There is a family history on the paternal side.
3.Pyloric stenosis presents with bilious vomiting
4. Mostly seen in first- borns
- T
2.F
3.F
4.T
Presenting age of pyloric stenosis
2-7 weeks of age
the problem in pyloric stenosis
hypertrophy of the pyloric muscle
Sx of Pyloric stenosis
Forceful vomiting eventually becoming projectile.
Hunger after vomiting
Visible gastric peristalsis
A pyloric mass (like an olive) palpable over the RUQ
Ix for pyloric stenosis
USS Abd - Visible milk line ending at the pylorus
Complications of pyloric stenosis
Reduced Cl-
Reduced Na+
Reduced K+
Reduced H+
pH high - metabolic alkalosis
Dehydration
Mx of pyloric stenosis
- Correct all electrolyte imbalances with IV fluids
2.Pyloromyotomy
Pyloromyotomy
Division of the hypertrophied muscle length-wise down to the mucosa ( but not including mucosa)
Why does the baby cough while feeding in tracheo- esoph fistula?
Milk goes into the trachea through the fistula
Peptic ulceration is usually caused due to?
Gastritis, Helicobactor pylori infections
How is H. pylori identified?
Gastric Antral Biopsies - Best
Urea breath test
How is urea breath test carried out?
Urea is given with radioactive labelled C. If H. pylori is present it breaks down urea into ammonia and CO2. When the radioactive C is present in the breath, this confirms the presence of H. pylori.
H. pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium. T/F?
T
What are the 2 types of Ulcers that fall under peptic ulcer disease?
Duodenal ulcers
Gastric ulcers
Presentation of gastric ulcers
Pain after meals
Relieved after vomiting
Common in children
Weight loss
Nocturnal pain is uncommon
Presentation of duodenal ulcers
Uncommon in children
Exacerbation of pain at night - fasting
Relieved after eating
Nocturnal pain is common
Management of Peptic ulcer disease
Adolescents- Stop alcohol, smoking.
Avoid Aspirin and other NSAIDs.
PPIs
Triple therapy to eradicate H. pylori infection. (2ABx+ PPI)
If no response to Rx, an Upper GI endoscopy should be carried out.
What is triple therapy?
2 antibiotics and a PPI
Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, Omeprazole
If patient has features of duodenal/ gastric ulcers, but upper GI endoscopy appears normal, What’s the most likely diagnosis?
Functional Dyspepsia
Signs and Sx of dyspepsia
Abdominal Bloating
Heart Burn
Belching
Nocturnal Regurgitation
N & V
Epigastric pain
Presentation of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Abdominal pain - Often worse than before or relieved by defecation
Bloating
Constipation (Often alternating with normal or loose stools)
Desire/ Sensation to go to the toilet after a meal
Explosive, loose or mucousy stools
Feeling of incomplete defecation
Possible pnemonic - ABCDEF
What is the cause of IBS?
Its associated with altered GI motility and an abnormal sensation of intra-abdominal events.
An over sensitization of the GIT
Mx of IBS
Supportive Mx
What is Constipation?
Infrequent passage of dry, hardened faeces often accompanied by straining or pain
What is used to check the nature of the stools?
Bristol Chart - 7 types
1 to 4 - Constipation
Presentation of Constipation
Abdominal pain which waxes and wanes with passage of stool or overflow soiling.
What is overflow soiling?
Stools get collected in the rectum, margins of the stool liquefy due to bacterial action leading to faecal soiling (Encopresis) staining undergarments.
Causes of constipation
Commonest cause - Functional constipation: Low water intake, low fiber intake, Dehydration/ reduced fluid inake
In babies - Hirschsprung disease, anorectal abnormalities, hypothyroidism and hypercalcemia.
Anal fissure causing pain.
Older children - Problems related to toilet training, unpleasant toilets, stress.
What questions will you ask the mother of a child presenting with Constipation?
Is growth normal? No abdominal distention? - Functional constipation
Delayed passing of meconium? - Hirschsprung Disease
Sleepy? Decreased food intake, Cold intolerance, Weight gain - Hypothyroidism
High blood Ca, Ca in urine, kidney stones - hypercalcemia
What important Hx must you take about the first few days of life?
Meconium passing within 48hrs of life
A well looking child, with normal growth, abdomen is flat, non tender, soft faecal mass in the lower left quadrant and rectum is full of hard stools. What’s the most likely Dx?
Functional Constipation
A poorly nourished child with poor growth, distended abdomen and an empty rectum. What’s the most likely Dx?
Hirschsprung Disease
A lethargic child, who is obese with a short stature, bradycardia and cool, dry skin. What’s the most likely Dx?
Hypothyroidism
Upon clinical examination of a constipated patient, what are the findings?
Palpable abdominal mass in a well looking child
DRE if a pathological cause is suspected - Hard stools found in rectum
Faecal soiling occurs in functional constipation
Investigations for Constipation
Not usually required to dx idiopathic/functional constipation.
If you suspect a disease - Ca levels, thyroxine and TSH levels
Mx of constipation
If of new onset, No palpable mass in abdomen - Balanced diet, sufficient fluids. May need osmotic laxatives (Lactulose).
Long standing constipation - Stimulant Laxatives (Senna/ picosulphate/ Dulcolax) with/ without osmotic laxatives.
If these fail, Enema or manual evacuation under GA by paed specialist.
Types of laxatives with Examples
Osmotic - Lactulose
Stimulant - Senna, Picosulphate, Dulcolax
How long should drugs be taken for constipation?
Drugs should be continued for at least 3 months to prevent reoccurrence
Pathophysiology of Hirschsprung Disease
Absence of ganglionic cells in the myenteric and submucosal plexuses which extends from the rectum ending in a normally innervated colon. This portion becomes narrow and contracted due to the lack of nerve supply.
C/F of Hirschsprung Disease
Presentation usually in neonatal period with intestinal obstruction.
Failure to pass meconium within the first 48hrs of life.
Bile- stained vomiting may develop later
Rectal examination may reveal a narrowed segment and withdrawal of the examining finger often releases a gush of liquid stool and flatus due to dialation of the contracted portion.
Infants may present with severe, life threatening Hirschsprung enterocolitis during first few weeks of life, sometimes due to Clostridium difficile infection.
In later childhood, presentation is with chronic constipation, associated with abdominal distention with no soiling.
Growth failure maybe present
Hirschsprung Disease Ix
Rectal Manometry
Barium Studies
Rectal biopsy - No ganglionic cells (Best Ix)
What happens if Hirschsprung disease is not Rx?
Colon proximal to the obstruction will enlarge dragging blood vessels leading to decreased blood supply and tissue death (necrosis). Anaerobic bacteria will settle leading to Hirschsprung enterocolitis.
Abdominal pain, Abdominal distention, Stools with blood, Very high fever, Very ill looking patient
Mx of Hirschsprung disease?
Cut of aganglionic portion and connect colostomy.
Later on end to end anastomoses of normally innervated bowel to anus.
Difference between Functional Constipation and Hirschsprung Disease
Functional Constipation
Onset after 2yrs of age, Thrives, No enterocolitis, No abdominal distention, Gains weight, Normal Anal tone, Stool in rectal ampulla, Anorectal manomaetry reveals rectum distention and relaxation of internal sphincter, Barium enema reveals large amount of stool and no transition zone, Faecal soiling
Hirschsprung Disease
Onset at birth, failure to thrive, possible enterocolitis, abdominal distention, poor weight gain, normal anal tone, no stool in rectum, No sphincter relaxation in anorectal manometry, Transition zone with delayed evacuation in barium enema, No fecal soiling.
Primary mechanisms of acute gastroenteritis in children
- Damage to villous brush border leading to malabsorption and Osmotic diarrhoea due to the presence of osmotically active particles (glucose, lactose) that draw in water to the intestinal lumen.
- Toxins (Cholera) that bind to specific enterocyte receptors that activate water channels releasing chloride ions into the intestinal lumen, leading to secretory diarrhoea.
What is diarrhoea?
Passage of unusually loose or watery stools. Usually > 3 times/ day.
Consistency of stools is more important than the amount of stools passed
Types of diarrhoea
Acute - Acute watery (Viral) Diarrhoea, Acute bloody (Bacterial, Dysentery) Diarrhoea.
Persistent - Last >= 14days (Cut off for chronic diarrhoea)
Features of Bacterial/ Acute bloody Diarrhoea
High Temperature
Severe abdominal pain, tenesmus
Lasts for several days
Smaller volumes of stools
Main dangers are intestional mucosal damage, Sepsis, malnutrition
Usually caused by - campylobactor jejuni, Enterohemorrhagic E.coli, shigella, Amoeba
Can initially present as watery diarrhoea
Features of Viral/ Acute watery Diarrhoea
Lasts for several hours/days
Large amounts of stools
Dehydration is the main danger
Usually caused by Rotavirus, adenovirus, calcivirus, coronavirus, Hep A
Bacteria - Vibrio cholerae
Rarely can cause bloody diarrhoea as well
Clinical Features of a patient presenting with diarrhoea
Diarrhoea - Watery/bloody/mucoid
Vomiting - May occur before onset of diarrhoea
Abdominal pain
Signs and Sx of Infection - Fever, chills, muscle pain
Signs and Sx of dehydration
What is Lactose intolerance?
Lactose is not converted into glucose and galactose due to the deficiency of the lactase enzyme.
Patients will present with explosive, frothy stools after consumption of dairy products.
What are the types of Lactose intolerance?
- Primary - From Birth
Breast milk should be avoided.
Milk Powder without lactose can be given (O-Lac) - Secondary - Following a diarrhoeal illness
Breast Milk can be given
Causes of Chronic Diarrhoea
Poor immunity (HIV)
Parasitic infections (Amoeba, Giardiasis)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease