MID WEIGHTING - Gastrointestinal System Flashcards
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is the most common cause of peptic ulcers?
H pylori
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
How is H Pylori diagnosed?
(1) Urea (13C) breath test
(2) Stool Helicobacter Antigen Test (SAT)
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What requirements are there before taking a test for H Pylori?
(1) PPIs should be stopped 2 weeks before test
(2) Antibiotics should be stopped 4 weeks before test
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is the treatment for H Pylori?
Triple Therapy for 7 days
(1) PPI - BD
(2)
- Amoxicillin 1g BD
- Clarithromycin 500mg BD
- Metronidazole 400mg BD
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is the duration of treatment for H Pylori infections?
7 days
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
Give the acronyms for three different H Pylori treatment regimes.
(1) PAC
(2) PMC
(3) PAM
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
What is the effect of a pancreatic insufficiency?
Reduces secretion of pancreatic enzymes into the duodenum.
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Name some common causes of pancreatic insufficiency.
- Pancreatitis
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Pancreatic Tumours
- GI resection (can lead to maldigestion + malnutrition)
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
How can GI resection lead to pancreatic insufficieny?
Maldigestion -> Malnutrition
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
What is the treatment for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
Pancreatic enzyme replacement (Pancreatin)
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
What is the name for pancreatic replacement enzyme?
Pancreatin
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
What is Pancreatin?
Pancreatic enzyme replacement
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
What is the contents of Pancreatin?
Lipase, amylase, protease
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
(1) What instructions should be given for Pancreatin? (2) Why?
(1) Take with meals and snacks
(2) Can be broken down very quickly without a meal
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
What limit is there for lipase in cystic fibrosis patients?
10,000units/kg/day
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
What should cystic fibrosis patients report if initiated on Pancreatin?
Any new abdominal symptoms
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
What monitoring requirements are there for patients taking Pancreatin?c
Levels of fat soluble vitamins & micronutrients
- Supplements should be given if needed
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What does the term ‘dyspepsia’ refer to?
Describes a range of upper GI symptoms
Typically presenting for 4 or more weeks
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
Name some symptoms of dyspepsia.
- Upper abdominal pain/ discomfort
- Heartburn
- Gastric reflux
- Bloating
- Nausea/ vomiting
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is the most common cause of dyspepsia?
Functional dyspepsia
- No known cause
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What are dyspepsia symptoms in pregnancy often due to?
GORD
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What are the aims of treatment for dyspepsia?
(1) Manage symptoms
(2) Treat underlying cause (where possible)
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
Which non-drug treatments may help reduce dyspepsia?
- Healthy eating
- Weight loss (if obese)
- Eating smaller meals
- Eating (minimum) 3-4 hours before bed
- Avoiding trigger foods
- Raising the head of the bed
- Smoking cessation
- Reducing alcohol consumption
- Assessment and resolution of anxiety/ depression/ stress
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
For which patients is urgent endoscopy required for?
Those experiencing:
- Dysphagia
- Significant acute GI bleeding
- Aged >55yrs with unexplained weight loss + symptoms of upper abdominal pain/ reflux/ dyspepsia
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
Which drugs may cause dyspepsia?
- Alpha-blockers
- Antimuscarinics
- Aspirin
- Benzodiazepines
- Beta-blockers
- Bisphosphonates
- Calcium channel blockers
- Corticosteroids
- Nitrates
- NSAIDs
- Theophyllines
- TCAs
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
When are antacids/ alginates indicated in dyspepsia?
Short-term symptom control only
Continuous use is not recommended
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is the initial management for uninvestigated dyspepsia?
PPI for 4 weeks
Tested for H. pylori (treated if positive)
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What test should be run, alongside treatment, for initial management of uninvestigated dyspepsia?
H. pylori test
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is Public Health England’s recommendation regarding initial management of uninvestigated dyspepsia?
H. pylori test should be undertaken first/ in parallel with PPI treatment
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is the initial management for function dyspepsia?
H. pylori infection test (treated if positive)
(If negative)
- PPI/ H2-receptor antagonist for 4 weeks
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
If symptoms persist/ recur following initial management of dyspepsia, how should the patient be treated?
PPI/ H2-receptor antagonist at lowest dose that controls symptoms
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
If a patient with refractory dyspepsia is on an NSAID and initial treatment was unsuccessful, how should they be managed?
Stop NSAID if possible
If not possible, switch to non-NSAID, e.g. paracetamol/ COX-2 inhibitor
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
(1) How often should patients with dyspepsia be reviewed? (2) What should be encouraged at these reviews?
(1) Annual review to reassess symptoms and treatment
(2) Step-down approach/ stopping treatment
- If possible AND clinically appropriate
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
When should a patient be referred to a specialist?
Gastro-oesophageal symptoms:
- Unexplained
- Non-responsive to treatment
- H. pylori infection non-responsive to second-line eradication therapy
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is peptic ulcer disease?
Gastric/ duodenal ulceration
Breach of epithelium of mucosa
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is the main symptom of a peptic ulcer?
Upper abdominal pain
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What are some less common symptoms of a peptic ulcer?
- Nausea
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Bloated feeling
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What are the most common causes of peptic ulcers?
(1) NSAIDs
(2) H. pylori infection
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
Which factors may contribute to developing peptic ulcer disease?
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Stress
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What are some complications of peptic ulcer disease?
- Gastric outlet obstruction
- Potentially life-threatening GI perforation & haemorrhage
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
Which patients are at high risk of developing GI complications with an NSAID?
- Hx of complicated peptic ulcer OR
- Those with ≥2 of the following:
o >65yrs
o High dose NSAIDs
o Drugs that increase risk of GI side-effects
o Serious co-morbidity
o Heavy smoker
o Excessive alcohol consumption
o Previous ADR to NSAIDs
o Prolonged requirement for NSAIDs
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What are the aims of treatment for peptic ulcer disease?
Promote ulcer healing
Manage symptoms
Treat H. pylori infection (if positive)
Reduce risk of ulcer complications + recurrence
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
Describe the non-drug treatment of peptic ulcer disease.
- Healthy eating
- Weight loss (if obese)
- Avoiding trigger foods
- Eating smaller meals
- Eat 3-4hours (minimum) before going to bed
- Raise head of bed
- Smoking cessation
- Reduction in alcohol consumption
- Assessment & resolution of anxiety/ depression/ stress
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
Describe the initial management of peptic ulcer disease.
- Review/ stop drugs that induce peptic ulcers, if clinically appropriate
- Antacids/ alginates may be used for short-term symptom control
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
When are antacids/ alginates recommended?
Short-term symptom control
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What does the treatment strategy for peptic ulcer disease depend on?
(1) Presence of H. pylori infection
(2) Recently taken NSAIDs
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What test should be taken for patients presenting with peptic ulcer disease?
H. pylori test
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is the management of a patient with peptic ulcer disease who has a positive H. pylori infection test result and have no history of NSAID use?
H. pylori infection should be eradicated
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is the management of a patient with peptic ulcer disease who has a positive H. pylori that is associated with NSAID use?
(1) PPI/ H2-receptor antagonist for 8 weeks
(2) Followed by H. pylori eradication treatment
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is the the management of a patient with peptic ulcer disease who has a negative H. pylori that is not associated with NSAID use?
PPI/ H2-receptor antagonist for 4-8 weeks
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
(1) When should patients with peptic ulcers who have tested positive for H. pylori be reviewed? (2) What can this depend on?
(1) 6-8 weeks after starting eradication treatment
(2) Re-tested depending on size of lesion
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
(1) When should patients with peptic ulcers who have tested positive for H. pylori have a repeat endoscopy? (2) For which patients does this apply?
(1) 6-8 weeks after treatment
(2) Gastric ulcers ONLY
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
For patients on long-term NSAID use with peptic ulcer disease, how often should NSAID treatment be reviewed?
At least every 6 months
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
For patients on long-term NSAID use with peptic ulcer disease, what should be assessed in their NSAID reviews?
- Consider dose reduction
- NSAID substitution with paracetamol
- Use of alternative analgesic/ low-dose ibuprofen
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
When should a COX-2 inhibitor be considered for patients with peptic ulcer disease?
Previous ulceration for whom:
- NSAID continuation is necessary
- High risk of GI side-effects
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
(1) What is the preferred choice for gastro-protection with acid suppression therapy? (2) What are some alternative options of acid suppression therapy?
(1) PPI
(2) H2-receptor antagonist/ misoprostol
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What limits the use of misoprostol as acid suppression therapy?
Side-effects limit its use
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
When should acid suppression therapy for gastro-protection be prescribed in patients with peptic ulcer disease?
Always
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
In patients with peptic ulcer disease, how should the patient be managed if symptoms recur after initial treatment?
PPI at lowest possible dose to control symptoms
Treatment used on as-needed basis
- Managed by patient
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What differentials can be considered if a patient has persistent symptoms of peptic ulcer disease or an unhealed ulcer following initial treatment?
- Malignancy
- Failure to detect H. pylori
- Inadvertent NSAID use
- Other ulcer-inducing medication
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
- Crohn’s disease
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
If response to a PPI is inadequate, as acid suppression therapy, what is the alternative?
H2-receptor antagonist
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
How often should patients on long-term treatment for peptic ulcer disease be reviewed and what should be assessed in this review?
Annual review of symptoms of treatment
Step-down approach/ stopping treatment
- If possible + clinically appropriate
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is GORD?
Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease
Reflux of gastric contents (acid, bile, pepsin)
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What are some common symptoms of GORD?
- Heartburn
- Acid regurgitation
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What are some less common symptoms of GORD?
- Chest pain
- Hoarseness
- Cough
- Wheezing
- Asthma
- Dental erosions
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is required for GORD to be classified as non-erosive?
Symptoms of GORD with normal endoscopy
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What is required for GORD to be classified as erosive oesophagitis?
Oesophageal inflammation AND mucosal erosions are seen on endoscopy
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What are the risk factors for GORD?
- Consumption of trigger foods
- Consumption of fatty foods
- Pregnancy
- Hiatus hernia
- FHx of GORD
- Increased intra-gastric pressure from straining and coughing
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Obesity
- Drug side-effects
- Smoking and alcohol consumption
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
Name some complications of GORD.
- Oesophageal inflammation (oesophagitis)
- Ulceration
- Haemorrhage
- Stricture formation
- Anaemia due to chronic blood loss
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Barrett’s oesophagus
Gastric Acid Disorders & Ulceration
What are the aims of treatment of GORD?
Manage symptoms of GORD
Reduce risk of recurrence & complications associated with the disease
Chronic Bowel Disorders
Where does Coeliac disease occur?
Small intestine
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is Coeliac disease?
Intolerance to gluten
-> Causes an immune response in intestinal mucosa
(Wheat, barley, rye)
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What can an immune response in the intestinal mucosa lead to?
Malabsorption of nutrients
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What are the aims of treatment of Coeliac disease?
(1) Manage symptoms
(2) Avoid malnutrition
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What are some symptoms of Coeliac disease?
- Diarrhoea
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is done to help avoid malnutrition in Coeliac disease?
Supplement:
- Vitamin D
- Calcium
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is currently the only effective treatment option for Coeliac disease?
AVOID gluten
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is the difference between diverticular disease and diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis = Small pouches (asymptomatic)
Diverticular disease = Small pouches (symptomatic)
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What are some symptoms of diverticular disease?
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Rectal bleed
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is the treatment for diverticular disease?
- Fibre
- Bulk-forming laxatives
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is acute diverticulitis?
When pouches become inflamed or infected
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What are some symptoms of acute diverticulitis?
- Severe abdominal pain
- Fever
- Significant rectal bleeding
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is complicated acute diverticulitis?
Abscess, perforation, fistula, obstruction, sepsis, haemorrhage
In presence of acute diverticulitis (severe abdominal pain/ fever/ significant rectal bleeding)
Chronic Bowel Disorders
Where does Crohn’s disease occur?
Whole GI tract (mouth to rectum)
Chronic Bowel Disorders
Describe the pathophysiology of Crohn’s disease?
Associated with thickened wall (extending through all layers)
Deep ulceration
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What does the treatment of acute Crohn’s disease depend on?
Number of flare ups in 12 month period
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What complications can Crohn’s disease lead to?
- Intestinal strictures/ fistulae
- Anaemia/ malnutrition (unable to absorb nutrients)
- Colorectal/ small bowel cancers
- Growth failure/ delayed puberty in children
- Extra-intestinal manifestation
ø Arthritis of joints/ eyes/ liver/ skin abnormalities
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is the treatment of acute Crohn’s disease for the first flare-up in a 12 month period?
MONOTHERAPY:
- Prednisolone/ methylprednisolone/ IV hydrocortisone
OR
Aminosalicylates (sulfasalazine/ mesalazine)
Chronic Bowel Disorders
How does the use of aminosalicylates compare to that of steroids for treatment of acute Crohn’s disease?
Fewer side effects, but less effective
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is the treatment for the first flare-up of acute Crohn’s with distal ileal/ ileocaecal/ right-sided disease?
Usual steroid monotherapy
Use budesonide if normal treatment does not work
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is the treatment for acute Crohn’s disease with 2+ flare-ups in a 12 month period?
Prednisolone/ methylprednisolone/ IV hydrocortisone
ADD azathioprine/ mercaptopurine
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What should be measured before initiating treatment of Crohn’s disease with mercaptopurine?
TMPT
Thiopurine methyltransferase
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What should be measured before initiating treatment of Crohn’s disease with azathioprine?
TMPT
Thiopurine methyltransferase
Chronic Bowel Disorders
Why are TMPT levels measured before initiating azathioprine/ mercaptopurine?
TMPT enzyme is needed for metabolising these drugs
Deficiency can lead to inadequate metabolism and risk of immunosuppression
Chronic Bowel Disorders
When should methotrexate be considered for treatment of Crohn’s disease?
2+ flare ups in 12 month period
When azathioprine/ mercaptopurine are contraindicated
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is the treatment for severe Crohn’s disease?
Monoclonal Antibodies
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is fistulating Crohn’s disease?
Development of a fistula between intestine and perianal skin, bladder, vagina
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What can be used to improve symptoms of fistulating Crohn’s disease?
Metronidazole +/- Ciprofloxacin
Chronic Bowel Disorders
In fistulating Crohn’s disease, how long is metronidazole normally given for?
1 month
Chronic Bowel Disorders
In fistulating Crohn’s disease, why is there a maximum duration of metronidazole of 3 months?
Any more than that increases risk of peripheral neuropathy
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is first line treatment for maintenance therapy for fistulating Crohn’s disease?
Azathioprine/ mercaptopurine
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is second line treatment for maintenance therapy for fistulating Crohn’s disease (when not responding to primary treatment)?
Infliximab
Chronic Bowel Disorders
For maintenance treatment of fistulating Crohn’s disease, how long should maintenance last?
At least 1 year
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is maintenance treatment of Crohn’s disease?
- Monotherapy of mercaptopurine/ azathioprine
ø (can use methotrexate if used in induction/ unable to tolerate aza/ merc) - Encourage to stop smoking
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What is the treatment of Crohn’s disease following surgery?
Azathioprine + metronidazole
Chronic Bowel Disorders
In Crohn’s disease, what is the treatment for diarrhoea?
- Loperamide
- Colestyramine
- Codeine
Chronic Bowel Disorders
In ulcerative colitis, what is the treatment for diarrhoea?
- Loperamide
- Colestyramine
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What are some examples of aminosalicylates?
- Sulfasalazine
- Mesalazine
- Olsalazine
- Balsalazide
Chronic Bowel Disorders
What are the cautions for aminosalicylates?
- Nephrotoxic
- Hepatotoxic
- Blood disorders
Chronic Bowel Disorders
How often should renal function be monitored for aminosalicylates?
- Before initiation
- After 3 months
- Then annually