Liver/Pancreas/Gallbladder Flashcards
What is the role of the pancreas?
Production of enzymes that digest carbohydrates, proteins and fats
Name some exocrine and endocrine pancreatic secretions
Exocrine - trypsin, amylase
Endocrine - insulin (from beta islet cells)
What are the symptoms of acute pancreatitis?
Gradual or sudden severe epigastric or central abdominal pain
Radiates to the back, relieved sitting forward
Vomiting
What are the signs of acute pancreatitis?
Tachycardia, fever, jaundice, shock, ileus
Cullens and Grey Turners signs (periumbilical and flank bruising - from blood vessel autodigestion)
What causes acute pancreatitis? (GET SMASHED)
Gallstones
Ethanol
Trauma
Steroids Mumps Autoimmune Scorpion venom Hyper-lipidemia/calcemia ERCP/emboli Drugs
ALSO pregnancy and neoplasm
What are the key markers that are raised in acute pancreatitis?
Serum amylase (not raised in chronic), CRP, calcium (low),
How is acute pancreatitis managed?
IV fluids and analgesia (pethidine, morphine)
Treat gallstones with ERCP
What causes chronic pancreatitis? (GAAS)
Genetic (PRSS1 and SPINK-1)
Alcohol
Autoimmune
Smoking
How is chronic pancreatitis diagnosed?
Pancreatic calcifications on USS and CT
What treatment is given to those with chronic pancreatitis?
Artificial pancreatic enzymes (creon)
What is the pathology behind pancreatic cancer?
Mostly ductal adenocarcinoma (metastasise early, present late) - 60% in the head
What are the complications of acute and chronic pancreatitis?
Acute - SIRS, organ dysfunction, pancreatic necrosis, pseudocyst, haemorrhage, abscess
Chronic - chronic pain, DM, malabsorption, biliary obstruction, pancreatic cancer
What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
Head - painless obstructive jaundice (2WW)
Body and tail - epigastric pain, radiating to back (late symptom)
What tumour marker is raised in pancreatic cancer?
Ca19-9
What would imaging show of pancreatic cancer?
USS/CT - pancreatic mass, dilated biliary tree and hepatic metastases
EUS - staging
ERCP - biliary tree anatomy and site of obstruction
What is the treatment for pancreatic cancer?
Surgery - Whipples pancreatoduodenectomy (if no mets), or laparoscopic excision
Chemotherapy - not curative
Palliative
What is the prognosis of pancreatic cancer?
Mean survival <6 months, 5 year survival: 3%
What genetic mutation is found in 95% of patients with pancreatic cancer?
KRAS2 gene mutation
What is the role of the gallbladder?
Storage of bile
What is the role of the biliary tree?
Hepatic duct transports bile to the gallbladder and common bile duct.
Common bile duct transports bile to the duodenum
What is the role of bile?
Bile is an alkaline substance containing cholesterol, bile pigments and phospholipids, that helps digestion of fats
What are the different types of gallstones?
Pigment stones - small, friable and irregular, from haemolysis
Cholesterol stones - large, from age and obesity
Mixed stones - faceted
What is biliary colic?
Right upper quadrant pain that comes and goes (with the stones obstructing the cystic duct or CBD)
NB - gallstones are only symptomatic if they block a duct
How is biliary colic managed?
Analgesia
Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
What are the complications of gallstones in:
a) the gallbladder?
b) the bile ducts?
c) the gut?
a) biliary colic, cholecystitis, mirizzis syndrome (impacted at gallbladder neck)
b) cholangitis, pancreatitis, obstructive jaundice
c) gallstone ileus
What is acute cholecystitis and how is it managed?
Inflammation and fever, usually in response to cholesterol stone impaction in the neck of the gallbladder
Treat with cefuroxime or perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy