Liver + Biliary Disease Flashcards
Mechanism of chronic liver failure
Commonly due to cirrhosis
Progressive destruction + regeneration of liver parenchyma leads to fibrosis + cirrhosis
Causes of chronic liver failure
Hepatitis
Alcoholic liver disease
Methotrexate, amiodarone, nitrofurantoin
Fatty liver disease
Wilsons disease
Biliary cirrhosis
Sclerosing cholangitis
Right HF
RF of liver failure
Alcohol
Obesity
Metabolic syndrome
IVDUs
Unprotected sex with multiple partners
S+S liver failure
Ascites
Haematemesis
Itching
Gallstones
Jaundice
Loss of appetite
Easy bruising
Diarrhoea
Fatigue
Palmar erythema
Dupytrens contracture
Management of liver failure
Corticosteroids, interferons, antivirals, bile acids
Supportive: diuretics, albumin, vit K, abx
What causes a high serum urea?
Catabolic state
High protein intake
GI bleed
Dehydration
CV failure
Reduced renal function
What causes a low serum urea?
Liver failure
What causes a high serum creatinine?
Reduced renal function
Large muscle mass (young, male, muscular)
What causes a low serum creatinine?
Low muscle mass (elderly, wasting, females)
What are the causes of ascites?
Cirrhosis
Malignancy (GI tract)
HF
Nephrotic syndrome
TB
Pancreatitis
What is the management of ascites?
Spironolactone
Loop diuretics
Paracentesis
S+S gallstones
Biliary colic
N+V
Pain worse on eating fatty foods, may radiate to back
Positive Murphys sign = palpate liver border + pain on inhalation
Presentation of cholecystitis
Typically 2nd to gallstones
RUQ/ epigastric pain colicky, radiating to back
Fever + rigors
Vomiting
Murphys sign (pain in RUQ on inspiration)
Precipitated by consumption of fatty foods
Investigations + results for ?cholecystitis
FBC, U+Es LFTS (raised ALP + bilirubin)
Raised WCC
ECG, amylase, CXR
USS 1st line
MRCP if USS is inconclusive or EUS
Investigations + results for ?cholangitis
WCC+, CRP+, ALT+, ALP+
USS 1st line = shows bile duct dilatation
ERCP = diagnostic
What is Reynolds pentad?
Hypotensive + confused
Sign of cholangitis + septic shock
What is Charcot’s triad?
Sign of cholangitis
RUQ pain, jaundice, rigors
Management of cholecystitis
NBM, opioid/ diclofenac for severe pain, paracetamol/ NSAIDs for mild
IV co-amox/ metronidazole- cefurox
Lap cholecystectomy
Management of biliary colic
NBM, analgesia, rehydrate
Elective lap cholecystectomy
Management of cholangitis
IV cefuroxime/ co-amox + metronidazole
ERCP
Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography - if pt too unwell for ERCP
RF for biliary tract infections
Fat
Fertile
Forty
Female
Fam hx
Complications of cholecystitis
Gallbladder empyema
Gangrenous cholecystitis
Perforation
Chronic cholecystitis
Cholecystenteric fistula
Bouveret’s syndrome + gallstone ileus
Obstructive jaundice
Pancreatitis
MRCP vs ERCP
MRCP = using MRI to get image
ERCP = use of contrast dye while images are being taken
Causes + presentation of cholangitis
Cholesterol stones
Charcot’s triad: jaundice, abdo pain + fever
Pruritis
Reynolds pentad: + hypotension + confusion
What is serum ammonia useful for?
Diagnosing acute liver failure due to hepatic encephalopathy
Pathology of gallstones
Occur due to cholesterol supersaturation, accelerated cholesterol crystal nucleation + impaired gallbladder motiligy
RF for developing gallstones
Crohns, DM, high fat diet, females, increasing age, NAFLD, obesity, HRT
Complications of gallstones
Bilary colic, acute cholecystitis, cholangitis + pancreatitis
Gallstone ileus, Mirizzi syndrome, gallbladder cancer