Liver/pancreas Flashcards
What is the substance that gallstones are most commonly formed by?
Cholesterol
What are the risk factors for gallstones?
Fat, fair, female, forty
What is the pain like that is associated with gallstones?
Severe, colickly epigastric or RUQ pain, triggered by meals (especially fatty meals), lasts between 30 minutes and 8 hours, can also radiate to shoulder
What LFTs are raised in a hepatic picture?
ALT and AST
What LFTs are raised in obstructive picture/biliary tree disease?
ALP, GGT and bilirubin (also get deranged clotting in obstruction)
What investigations can be done in someone presenting with RUQ pain?
1st line = USS abdomen
MRCP - sensitive and specific for biliary tract disease
When is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy indicated?
When the patient is symptomatic of gallstones or the gallstones are leading to complications
What pain relief can be given to patients with gallbladder pain whilst waiting for elective surgery?
If severe IM diclofenac
If mild/moderate - paracetamol plus NSAID
What is acute cholecystitis?
Inflammation of the gallbladder which is caused by blockage of the cystic duct preventing the gallbladder from draining (most often gallstones)
What features are present in acute cholecystitis?
RUQ pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, RUQ tenderness, Murphy’s sign positive, raised inflammatory markers and WBC
What management is done for those with acute cholecystitis?
Nil by mouth, IV fluids, antibiotics, NG tube, ERCP can be used to remove trapped stones
Cholecystectomy can be performed during acute admission or be delayed for 6-8 weeks
What complications can occur due to acute cholecystitis?
Sepsis, gallbladder empyema, gangrenous gallbladder, perforation
What are the two main causes of acute cholangitis?
Obstruction in bile ducts stopping bile flow or infection introduced during ERCP procedure
What are the most common organisms that cause acute cholangitis?
E.coli, Klebsiella, enterococcus
What is charcot’s triad?
RUQ pain, fever, jaundice = acute cholangitis
What is the management of acute cholangitis?
IV fluids, nil by mouth, IV antibiotics, blood cultures, ERCP to remove stones
What is decompensated liver cirrhosis?
When the liver is damaged to the point that is cannot function adequately and clinical complications such as jaundice are present
What examination findings are present in someone with severe liver disease?
Cachexia, jaundice, hepatomegaly, small nodular liver, splenomegaly, spider naevi, palmar erythema, gynaecomastia, bruising, excoriations, ascites, caput medusae, leukonychia, asterixis
When is a non-invasive liver screen performed?
In a patient with abnormal LFTs without a clear cause
What blood tests will be deranged in someone with severe liver disease?
Low albumin (due to reduced synthetic function of the liver)
Increased PT (due to reduced clotting production)
Thrombocytopenia (advanced disease)
Hyponatraemia (due to fluid retention)
What is a Fibroscan/transient elastogrpahy scan used for?
Assesses the stiffness of the liver to determine the degree of fibrosis
Used in all patients at risk of cirrhosis
What scores can be used in someone with end stage liver disease?
MELD score or the Child-Pugh score - done every 6 months
Why do patients with cirrhosis develop malnutrition?
Loss of appetite, protein metabolism in the liver is affected and therefore muscle tissue is broken down to be used as fuel
Why does portal hypertension occur in those with liver cirrhosis?
Liver cirrhosis increases the resistance to blood flow in the liver which thereby increases pressure in portal system and results in splenomegaly
Why do oesophageal varices form in liver cirrhosis?
Portal hypertension causes swollen and tortuous vessels at sites where collaterals form between portal and systemic venous systems = distal oesophagus
This also causes caput medusae
What prophylaxis is given to patients with oesophageal varices to prevent bleeding?
1st line = non-selective beta blockers e.g. propranolol
2nd line = variceal band ligation
What is the management for bleeding oesophageal varices?
ABCDE and immediate senior help
Activate major haemorrhage protocol
Blood transfusions
Terlipressin or somatostatin can cause vasoconstriction
Prophylactic broad spectrum antibiotics
Urgent endoscopy with variceal band ligation
What is the most common complication of cirrhosis?
Ascites
How does ascites form in those with liver cirrhosis?
Increased pressure in the portal system causes fluid to leak out of the capillaries in the liver and into the peritoneal cavity
The drop in circulating volume then activates RAAS leading to fluid and sodium retention
What kind of ascites is caused by cirrhosis?
Transudative
What is the management of ascites?
Low sodium diet, aldosterone antagonists, ascitic tap/drain, prophylactic antibiotics, TIPS
What is spontaneous bacterial peritonitis?
Infection within the asicitc fluid and peritoneal lining without a clear source of infection - most commonly caused by E.coli and Klebsiella
What is the management for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis?
Sample for ascitic fluid, IV broad spectrum antibiotics
How does liver disease lead to kidney disease? (hepatorenal syndrome)
Portal hypertension causes portal vessels to release vasodilators which leads to reduced BP
The kidneys therefore activate RAAS which leads to vasoconstriction of the renal vessels
Renal vasoconstriction and low systemic pressure results in kidneys being starved of blood and reduced kidney function
What toxin is built up during hepatic encephalopathy?
Ammonia - liver cells unable to metabolise ammonia into harmless waste products
How does hepatic encephalopathy present?
Reduced consciousness and confusion
What is the management for hepatic encephalopathy?
Lactulose, antibiotics (rifaximim), nutritional support
What are the progressive stages of alcoholic liver disease?
Alcoholic fatty liver –> alcoholic hepatitis –> cirrhosis
What LFTs are consistent with alcoholic liver disease?
ALT and AST will be raised
AST > ALT (2:1)
GGT also raised with high alcohol consumption
What investigations can be done in someone with alcoholic liver disease?
Liver USS, FibroScan, endoscopy to assess for varices, CT/MRI, liver biopsy
What nutritional support is given to those with alcoholic liver disease?
High protein diet, thiamine replacement
What tools can be used to assess for alcohol dependence?
CAGE questions, AUDIT questionnaire
What symptoms are present 6-12 hours following alcohol withdrawal?
Tremor, sweating, headache, cravings, anxiety