MKSAP Board Basics Gastroenterology Flashcards
What test is used to evaluate suspected oropharyngeal dysphagia?
Videofluoroscopy with liquid and solid phases.
What is the first test to order when suspected achalasia is causing dysphagia?
Barium swallow
What are GI alarm features?
- Vomiting
- Anemia
- Weight loss
- Dysphagia
How is the diagnosis of GERD confirmed in patients without alarm features?
Relief of symptoms with a PPI (proton pump inhibitor)
What should you do if GERD symptoms are refractory of PPI treatment?
Upper endoscopy
Should barium X-rays be used to diagnose GERD?
No
In men over 50 with GERD symptoms, are nocturnal reflux symptoms a risk factor for Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma?
(Yes/No)
Yes
In men over 50 with GERD symptoms, is intra-abdominal distribution of fat a risk factor for Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma?
Yes
In men over 50 with GERD symptoms, is tobacco use a risk factor for Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma?
Yes
In men over 50 with GERD symptoms, is elevated BMI a risk factor for Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma?
Yes
In men over 50 with GERD symptoms, is hiatal hernia a risk factor for Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma?
Yes
What is the treatment of patients with Barrett’s esophagus without dysplasia?
Proton pump inhibitor
What is the treatment of patients with Barrett’s esophagus with low- to high grade dysplasia?
Endoscopic ablation
(RFA, photodynamic therapy, endoscopic mucosal resection, and esophagectomy)
How often is surveillance done for patients with Barrett’s esophagus without dysplasia?
Every 3 - 5 years
How often is surveillance done for patients with Barrett’s esophagus with mild dysplasia who do not get it ablated?
Every 6 - 12 months
Do women with GERD require screening for Barrett’s esophagus?
No
What are the most common infectious causes of esophagitis?
- Candida albicans
- CMV
- HSV
What is the diagnosis in patients with AIDS, odynophagia and oral candidiasis?
Esophageal candidiasis
What should you do in patients who are immunocompromised with odynophagia?
Empiric therapy for esophageal candidiasis
Do patients with viral esophagitis have associated ulcerative oropharyngeal lesions?
Rarely
Can tetracyclines cause pill-induced esophagitis?
Yes
Can NSAIDS cause pill-induced esophagitis?
Yes
Can potassium chloride cause pill-induced esophagitis?
Yes
Can iron pills cause pill-induced esophagitis?
Yes
Can alendronate cause pill-induced esophagitis?
Yes
What is the diagnosis in young adults who present with extreme dysphagia and food impaction?
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE)
What should you do if empiric therapy for presumed esophagitis is unsuccessful?
Perform upper endoscopy with biopsy/brushing
Patient has upper endoscopy showing mucosal furrowing, stacked circular rings, white specks, and mucosal friability.
Endoscopic biopsies show marked infiltration with eosinophils.
Diagnosis?
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE)
Is GERD associated with esophageal eosinophilia?
Yes
Does esophageal eosinophilia respond to an 8-week trial of proton pump inhibitor?
No
Should you do barium esophagography to evaluate suspected esophagitis?
No
Does the absence of oral Candida lesions rule out esophageal candidiasis?
No
What is the treatment for esophageal candidiasis?
- Fluconazole
- Itraconazole
What is the treatment for HSV esophagitis?
- Acyclovir
- Famciclovir
- Valacyclovir
What is the treatment for CMV esophagitis?
Ganciclovir and/or foscarnet
What is the treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis?
Swallowed fluticasone or budesonide
What is the treatment for pill-induced esophagitis?
Supportive care
What should all patients with peptic ulcer disease be tested for?
Helicobacter pylori infection
What are non-invasive strategies for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection?
- Urea breath tests
- Stool test for H. pylori antigens
What medications cause false-negative rapid urease tests, urea breath tests, and stool antigen results for H. pylori?
- Antibiotics
- Bismuth-containing compounds
- PPIs
How long do antibiotics need to be stopped before testing for H. pylori?
28 days
How long do PPIs need to be stopped before testing for H. pylori?
2 weeks
Should you use serum antibody testing to test for H. pylori?
No - cannot differentiate between past and present infection.
When should duodenal ulcers be biopsied?
When they are refractory to therapy
Should duodenal ulcers be biopsied?
No (unless refractory to therapy)
Is the risk of malignancy in duodenal ulcers low or high?
Low
What is the treatment for H. pylori infection?
- Clarithromycin-based triple therapy (if no clarithromycin resistance suspected)
- Bismuth quadruple therapy (if resistance to clarithromycin probable)
When first-line therapy fails for H. pylori infection, which antibiotics should not be used?
A salvage regimen should avoid previously used antibiotics.
When is surgery done for peptic ulcer disease?
When patients have complications
What is the follow-up after treating H. pylori infection?
Follow-up noninvasive testing to document H. pylori eradication should be performed at least 4 weeks after completion of
therapy in any patient with a positive H. pylori test result.
When is a follow-up upper endoscopy for gastric ulcers indicated?
- If patient remains symptomatic after treatment
- Cause is uncertain
- Biopsies were not performed during initial upper endoscopy
Does a selective COX-2 inhibitor provide better gastric protection than a nonselective NSAID plus a PPI?
No
Does duodenal peptic ulcer disease without complication need a follow-up upper endoscopy?
No
Should serologic testing (ELISA test for IgG antibodies) be used to confirm H. pylori eradication?
No (remains positive in the absence of active infection)
What should be used as the initial treatment of H. pylori infection in patients who are allergic to penicillin?
Bismuth quadruple therapy
What should you do for patients with refractory symptoms of dyspepsia?
Upper endoscopy
What diagnosis should be considered in patients with recurrent nausea, early satiety, bloating, and weight loss?
Gastroparesis
What is important to check in diabetes mellitus patients prior to doing a gastric emptying study?
Blood glucose should be less than 275 mg/dL during testing because marked hyperglycemia can acutely impair gastric emptying.
What are the dietary recommendations for gastroparesis?
Small low-fat meals consumed four to five times per day
What is the treatment of acute gastroparesis?
IV erythromycin