Laz - make a medic / MLA Flashcards
define achalasia
A disease characterised by intermittent dysphagia due to failure of relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter.
pathophysiology of achalasia?
Occurs due to degeneration of ganglion cells of the myenteric plexus in the oesophagus.
symptoms of achalasia - how does it present ?
Intermittent dysphagia involving solids and liquids
Regurgitation
Heartburn
Weight loss
ix for supsected achalasia ?
barium swallow - you would see Birds’ beak
CXR you would see widened mediastinum
Manometry: shows increased pressure at the lower oesophageal sphincter
Endoscopy: exclude malignancy
how to manage achalasia ?
Medical (aims to relax the lower oesophageal sphincter)
Nitrates
Calcium Channel Blockers (e.g. Nifedipine)
Surgical
Pneumatic dilation
Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM)
Botulinum toxin injection
path of coeliac disease
Inflammatory immune response to the gliadin component of gluten within the small bowel, resulting in intestinal malabsorption.
The presence of gluten within the duodenum triggers an immunological reaction resulting in a number of cellular and architectural changes within the lining of the duodenum
characteristic changes of GI in coeliac - and what part of GI?
duodenum:
Subtotal villous atrophy
Crypt hyperplasia
Increased intraepithelial lymphocytes
how does coeliac present ?
Chronic diarrhoea
Malabsorption of nutrients → Failure to thrive, weight loss
Tiredness
Abdominal discomfort
Itchy elbows (dermatitis herpetiformis)
ix for coeliac disease
FBC (anaemia)
iron and folate
Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies: positive
NOTE: This is an IgA antibody. Patients should also have their serum IgA levels measured as patient with selective IgA deficiency (relatively common in the population) would have a false negative anti-tTG result.
Anti-Endomysial Antibodies (IgA and IgG)
vaccine in coeliac disease ?
Patients with coeliac disease often have a degree of functional hyposplenism
For this reason, all patients with coeliac disease are offered the pneumococcal vaccine
Coeliac UK recommends that everyone with coeliac disease is vaccinated against pneumococcal infection and has a booster every 5 years
Currrent guidelines suggest giving the influenza vaccine on an individual basis.
how does crohns present ?
Chronic diarrhoea (may be bloody)
Abdominal pain
Malaise
Weight loss
ix for crohns
Bloods
FBC: anaemia
CRP/ESR: raised
Imaging
CT Scan: inflammation of the bowel wall
Barium Follow-Through: identify strictures
Other
OGD/Colonoscopy and Biopsy
management for crohns
Inducing Remission
Initial Agents
Glucocorticoids
E.g. prednisolone, methylprednisolone, IV hydrocortisone
Consider enteral nutrition as an alternative to steroids in:
Children and young people with concerns about growth and side-effects
Consider budesonide in people with:
One or more of distal ileal, ileocaecal or right-sided colonic disease
AND
Conventional steroids are not appropriate (e.g. not tolerated)
Consider aminosalicylates if steroids are not tolerated (e.g. mesalamine/mesalazine or sulfasalazine)
Add-Ons
Consider adding azathioprine or mercaptopurine to steroid treatment if:
2 or more exacerbations in 12 months
Glucocorticoid dose cannot be tapered
WARNING: assess thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) levels before starting azathioprine or mercaptopurine
Consider methotrexate as a second-line add-on if azathioprine or mercaptopurine are not tolerated
Biologics
Consider infliximab or adalimumab for adults with severe active Crohn’s disease who have not responded to conventional therapy (immunosuppressants)
Maintaining Remission
Avoid smoking
NOTE: smoking makes Crohn’s worse and ulcerative colitis better
Offer azathioprine or mercaptopurine as monotherapy
Consider methotrexate if:
Needed methotrexate to maintain remission
Azathioprine and mercaptopurine not tolerated or contraindicated
Do NOT offer glucocorticoids to maintain remission
Maintaining Remission Post-Operatively
Consider azathioprine with metronidazole
Surgery
Consider surgery early on in the disease if it is mainly confined to the terminal ileum
Consider surgery in children and young people who have refractory disease or a growth impairment despite maximal medical treatment
Strictures
Consider balloon dilation
which biologics for crohns ?
infliximab or adalimumab
which bacteria give you bloody diarrheoa gastroenteritis ?
Blood diarrhoea
More commonly associated with ‘CHESS’ bacteria (Campylobacter, Haemorrhagic E.coli, Entamoeba histolytica, Salmonella, Shigella)
ix for gastroenteritis
Bloods
U&E: assess extent of dehydration
Stool
Faecal microscopy and culture
Faecal C. difficile toxin assay
how to manage gastroenteritis ?
Usually managed conservatively with oral fluid rehydration as the disease is normally self-limiting
Correct electrolyte imbalances
Antibiotics may be considered in severe infection
risk factors for GORD ?
Obesity
Pregnancy
Hiatus Hernia
Alcohol excess
Smoking
how does GORD present ?
Epigastric pain
NOTE: check for triggers (e.g. spicy food)
Abnormal taste in mouth
Dysphagia
Chronic cough (worse at night and when lying down)
ix for GORD ?
Largely a clinical diagnosis
Bloods
FBC: anaemia may be suggestive of a bleeding ulcer/malignancy
Other
ECG (always consider cardiac causes of chest/epigastric pain)
24 hour oesophageal pH monitoring
Upper GI endoscopy (exclude malignancy)
Helicobacter pylori breath test and stool antigen
NOTE: 2 week washout period following PPI treatment must be observed before testing for H. pylori
Explain H pylori breath test ?
H pylori express Urease enzyme
patient swallows pill containing urea with carbon-13/14 isotope. If H pylori present, then CO2 is produced with the isotope. Therefore if labelled CO2 is detected by the analyser, then H pylori is present
GORD management
Conservative
Weight loss
Avoid precipitants (e.g. alcohol, spicy food)
Stop smoking
Sleep propped up
Uninvestigated Dyspepsia
Offer empirical high-dose PPI therapy for 4 weeks for people with uninvestigated dyspepsia
Offer H. pylori ‘test and treat’
Offer histamine antagonist (e.g. nizatidine) if there is an inadequate response to the PPI
Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease
Offer full-dose PPI for 4-8 weeks
If symptoms recur after initial treatment, offer long-term PPI at lowest dose possible that achieves symptom control
Offer histamine antagonist if the response to the PPI is inadequate
Referral to gastroenterologist for persistent/refractory GORD
Surgical
Nissen fundoplication
what is zollinger-ellison syndrome ?
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare condition where a duodenal or pancreatic tumour secretes excessive quantities of gastrin.
Gastrin is a hormone that stimulates acid secretion in the stomach. Therefore, there is excess production of stomach acid, resulting in severe dyspepsia, diarrhoea and peptic ulcers.
Gastrin-secreting tumours (gastrinomas) may be associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), an autosomal dominant genetic condition, which can also cause hormone-secreting tumours of the parathyroid and pituitary glands.
how does IBS present ?
Bloating
Abdominal discomfort (often relieved by defecation)
Constipation and diarrhoea