Lower GI Surgery Flashcards
What are the small bowel benign neoplasms?
- Lipoma
- Leiomyoma
- Neurofibroma
- Haemangioma
- Adenomatous polyp (FAP, Peutz-Jegher)
What are the small bowel malignant neoplasms?
65%
- Adenocarcinoma
- Carcinoid
- Lymphoma (esp with Coeliac)
- GIST
Presentation of small bowel neoplasms?
- Often non-specific symptoms so present late
- N/V, obstruction
- Weight loss, abdominal pain
- Bleeding
- Jaundice from biliary obstruction or liver mets
Imaging for small bowel neoplasms?
AXR: SBO
Ba follow through
CT
Endoscopy investigation for small bowel neoplasms?
Push enteroscopy
Capsule endoscopy
Definition of acute appendicitis?
Inflammation of the vermiform appendix ranging from oedema to ischaemic necrosis and perforatio
Epidemiology of acute appendicitis?
Incidence: 6% lifetime incidence, commonest surgical emergency
Age: rare <2yrs, maximal peak during child, decreased thereafter.
Pathogenesis of acute appendicitis?
Obstruction of the appendix
- Faecolith most commonly
- Lymphoid hyperplasia post-infection
- Tumour (caecal Ca, carcinoid)
- Worms (Ascaris lumbicoides, Schisto)
This means that gut organisms –> Infection behin obstruction
–> oedema, –> ischaemia, –> necrosis –> perforation
- Peritonitis
- Abscess
- Appendix mass
Pattern of Abdominal Pain in Appendicitis
Early inflammation –>
appendiceal irritation
- Visceral pain is not well localised compared with somatic pain
- Pain referred to the dermatome corresponding to the spinal cord entry level of these sympathetic fibres
- Append = midgut = Lesser splanch (T10/11) = umb.
Late inflammation –> parietal peritoneum irritation
- Pain localised in RIF
Remember
- Examine the testicles in a young man with RIF. Due to Torsion.
Symptoms of acute appendicitis?
Colicky abdo pain
- Central –> Localised in RIF
- Worse with movement
Anorexia
Nausea (vomiting is rarely prominent)
Constipation/diarrhoea
Signs of acute appendicitis?
- Low-grade pyrexia: 37.5-38.5
- Increased HR, shallow breathing
- Foetor oris
Guarding and tenderness @McBurney’s point.
+ve cough/percussion tenderness - Appendix mass may be palpable in RIF
- Pain PR suggest Pelvic appendix.
- Rosving positive - Palpation in left causes pain in RIF.
Special signs for appendicitis?
Rovsing’s Sign
Psoas sign
Cope Sign
What is Rovsing’s sign?
Pressure in LIF –> more pain in RIF
What is psoas sign
Pain on extending the hip: retrocaecal appendix
What is cope sign
Flexion + internal rotation of R hip –> Pain
Appendix lying close to obturator internus
Differentials for acute appendicitis?
Surgical
- Cholecystitis
- Diverticulitis
- Meckel’s diverticulitis
Gynae
- Cyst accident
- Salpingitis
- Ruptured ectopic
Medical
- Mesenteric adenitis
- UTI
- Crohns
Investigations for acute appendicitis?
Dx is principally clinical
Bloods: FBC, CRP, Amylase, G+S, clotting. Raised inflammatory markers + neutrophil-predominant leucocytosis.
Urine
- Sterile pyuria may indicated bladder irritation
- Ketones: Anorexia
- Exclude UTI
- B-HCG
Imaging
- US: Exclude gynae path, visualise inflamed appendix
- CT: can be used
Diagnostic lap
Management of acute appendicitis?
- Fluid
- Abx: cef 1.5g + met 500g IV TDS.
- Analgesia: paracetamol, - NSAIDs, codeine phosphate
- Certain Dx –> appendicectomy (open or lap)
- Uncertain Dx –> Active observation
Consider underlying caecal malignancy or perforated sigmoid diverticular disease.
Complications of acute appendicitis
Appendix mass
- Inflamed appendix with adherent covering of omentum and small bowel
Dx: US or CT
Mx;
- Initially: Abx + NBM
- Resolution of mass –> interval appendicectomy
- Exclude a colonic tumour: colonoscopy
Appendix abscess?
results if appendix mass doesn’t resolve
Mass enlarges, pt deteriorates
- Mx = Abx + NBM
- CT guided percutaneous drainage
- If no resolution, surgery may involve right hemicolectomy
Perforation of appendix?
- Commoner if faecolith present and in young children (as Dx is often delayed)
- Deteriorating pt with peritonitis
What is a diverticulum?
- Out-pouching of tubular structures
- Mostly found in sigmoid colon.
What is a true diverticulum?
True = Composed of complete wall (Meckel’s)
What is a false diverticulum?
Composed of mucosa only (Pharyngeal, colonic)
What is diverticular disease?
Symptomatic diverticulosis
What is diverticulitis?
Inflammation of diverticula
What is the epidemiology of diverticulitis?
30% of Westerner’s have diverticulosis by 60yrs
F>M
What is the pathophysiology of diverticular disease?
Associated with increased intraluminal pressure
- Low fibre diet: no osmotic effect to keep stool wet.
Mucosa herniates through muscularis propria at points of weakness where perforating arteries enter.
Most commonly located in sigmoid colon
Commoner in obese patients
Uniting factor in Saint’s triad
- Hiatus hernia
- Cholelithiasis
- Diverticular disease
Symptoms of diverticular disease?
Altered bowel habit ± left-sided colic
- Relieved by defection
Nausea
Flatulence
Management
- High fibre diet, mebeverine may help
- Elective resection for chronic pain
What is diverticulitis?
- Inspissated faeces –> obstruction of diverticulum
- Elderly pt with prev hx of constipation
What is the presentation of diverticulitus?
- Abdominal pain and tenderness (guarding, rigidity, rebound tenderness)
- Change in bowel habit - consitpaiton is more common but diarrhoea is also reported
- Typically LIF
- Localised peritonitis
- Pyrexia
- Urinary frequency, urgency or dysuria - due to irritation of the bladder by the inflamed bowel.
- Tender LIF (w or w/i tender palpable mass)
- Possibly reduced bowel sounds
Investigations for diverticular disease?
Blood
- FBC: increased WCC
- increased CRP and ESR
- Amylase
- G+S/match
Imaging
- Erect CXR: look for perforation
- AXR: Fluid level/air in bowel wall/pneumoperitoneum.
Need a CXR for pneumoperitoneum.
- Contrast CT: for suspected abscesses
- Gastrograffin enema
Avoid colonoscopy due to increased risk of perforation in diverticulitis
- Consider flexi sigmoidoscopy
What is the grading of diverticular disease?
Hinchey Grading
1) - Small confined pericolic abscesses - Surgery rarely needed.
2) Large abscess extending into pelvis - May resolve without surgery
3) Generalised purulent peritonitis - Needs surgery
4) Generalised faecal peritonitis - Needs surgery
What is the management of an acute attack of diverticulitis?
- Mild
- Can be treated at home with bowel rest (fluids only) and augmentin ± metronidazole
- If symptoms dont’ settle within 72hrs, or patient presents with more severe symptoms, then admit for IV antibiotics.
When to admit an acute diverticulitis?
Unwell
Fluids can’t be tolerated
Pain can’t be controlled
What is the medical management of acute diverticulitis?
- NBM
- IV fluids
- Analgesia
- Antibiotics: cefuroxime +
- Metronidazole
- Most cases settle
What are the surgical indications of acute diverticulitis?
Perforation
Large haemorrhage
Stricture –> Obstruction
- Do a Hartmann’s to resect diseased bowel.
This is surgical resection of the rectosigmoid colon with closure of the anorectal stump and formation of an end colostomy.
Also used to treat colon cancer. USed is limited to emergency surgery when immediate anastomosis is not possible. Therefore a colo-colo
What are the complications of diverticular disease?
Perforation Haemorrhage Abscess Fistulae = If patient has a colovesical fistula. Must use a CT to investigate. Stricture
What is the signs of a perforation in diverticular disease?
- Sudden onset pain (±preceding diverticulitis)
- Generalised peritonitis and shock
- CXR: air under diaphragm
- Rx: Hartmann’s
Signs of haemorrhage due to diverticular disease?
Sudden, painless bright red PR bleed.
Ix: mesenteric angiography or colonscopy.
Management - Stops spontaneously usually, may need transfusion. COlonoscopy ± diathermy/adrenaline.
Embolisation + resection.
Management of abscess in diverticular disease?
- Walled-off perforation
- Swinging fever
- Localising signs - boggy rectal mass
- Leukocytosis
- Rx: Abx + CT/US guided drainage
Management of fistulae in diverticular disease?
Enterocolic
Colovaginal
Colovesicular: Pneumaturia + intractable UTIs
management: resection
Strictures in diverticulitis?
After diverticulitis, colon may heal with fibrous strictures
- Management
- Resection (usually primary anastomosis)
- Stenting
What is the classification of bowel obstruction?
Simple
Closed Loop
Strangulated
What is a simple bowel obstruction?
- 1 obstructing point + no vascular compromise
- May be partial or complete.
What is a closed loop obstruction
Bowel obstructed @ two points
- Left CRC with competent ileocaecal valve
- Volvulus
Gross distention –> perforation
What is a strangulated bowel obstruction
- Compromised blood supply
Localised, constant pain + peritonism - Fever + Increased WCC
Commonest cause of small bowel obstruction?
SBO
- Adhesions: 60%
- Hernia
Commonest cause of large bowel obstruction
- Colorectal neoplasia: 60%
- Diverticular stricture: 20%
- Volvulus
Other causes of bowel obstruction
Non-mechanical = Paralytic ileus usually small bowel
- Post op
- Peritonitis
- Pancreatitis or any localised inflammation
- Poison
- Pseudo-obstruction
- Metabolic: decreased K, decreased Na, Decreased Mg, uraemia.
- Mesenteric ischaemia
Mechanical causes of BO?
Intraluminal
- Impacted matter: faeces, worms
- Intussusception
- Gallstones
Intramural
- Benign stricture (IBD, Surgery, Ischaemic colitis, diverticulitis, radiotherapy).
- Neoplasia
- Congenital atresia
Extramural - Hernia - Adhesions - Volvulus (sigmoid, caecal, gastric) - Extrinsic compression Pseudocyst Abscess Haematoma Tumour Congenital bands (Ladd's)
Presentation for BO?
Abdominal pain
- Colicky
- Central but level depends on gut region
- Constant/localised pain suggests strangulation or impending perforation
Distension
- Increased with lower obstructions
Vomiting
- Early in high obstruction
- Late or absent in low obstruction
Absolute constipation: Flatus and faeces
Examination of bowel obstruction?
HR increased: hypovolaemia, strnagulation
- Dehydration, hypovolaemia
- Fever: suggests inflammatory disease or strangulation
- Surgical scars
- Hernias
- Mass: neoplastic or inflammatory
- Bowel sounds
Increased: mechanical obstruction
Decreased movement: ileus
PR
- Empty rectum
- Rectal mass
- Hard impacted stool
- Blood from higher pathology
Investigations for bowel obstruction?
Bloods:
FBC: Increased WCC
U+E: Dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities
Amylase: Increased if strangulation/perforation
VBG: Increased lactate in strangulation
G+S, clotting: may need surgery
Imaging for bowel obstruction?
- Erect CXR
- AXR: ± erect film for fluid level
- CT: can show transition point
What does a gastrograffin study look for?
- Look for mechanical obstruction: No free flow
- Follow through or enema
- Follow through may relieve mild mechanical obstruction: usually adhesional.
What is a colonoscopy used for in bowel obstruction?
- Can be used in some cases
- Risk of perforation
- may be used therapeutically to stent
What are the finding on AXR in SBO?
Diameter >3cm Location: central Marking: Valvulae coniventes (completely across) LB Gas: Absent (large bowel gas) No. of loops: many Fluid: many, short.
What are the finding on AXR in LBO?
- > 6cm (Caecum >9)
- Peripherally
- Haustra (partially across)
- LB Gas: present - not in rectum.
- No of loops: Few
- Fluid level: Few, long.
What would you see in AXR in an ileus?
Both small and large bowels may be visible.
No clear transition point.
What is the general medical management of bowel obstruction?
Resuscitate: drip and suck
- NBM
- IV fluids: aggressive as patients may be v dehydrated
- NGT: decompress upper GIT, stops vomiting, prevents aspiration
- Catheterise: monitor UO
Therapy for Bowel obstruction management?
Analgesia: may require strong opoiod
Antibiotics: cef+met if strangulation or perforation
Gastrograffin study: oral or via NGT
Consider need for parenteral nutrition.
Avoid metoclopramide as it is a pro-kinetic anti-emetic so could cause perforation in bowel obstruction.
Monitor patient with bowel obstruction?
Regular clinical exam is necessary to ensure that the patient is not deteriorating
- Increased distension
- Increased pain or tenderness
- Increased HR or RR
- Repeat imaging and bloods
- Non-operative Mx successful in 80% of patients with SBO without peritonitis.
- Pts with LBO are likely to need surgery.
What are the surgical indications for bowel obstruction?
- Closed loop obstruction
- Obstructing neoplasm
- Strangulation/perforation –> sepsis, peritonitis
- Failure of conservative Mx (up to 72hr)