Pathophysiologes Of The Digestive System Flashcards
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease - what is it?
- heartburn
- highly acidic gastric contents pass the lower oesophageal sphincter and flow back into the oesophagus
- acute epigastric pain, after meals or when lying down
- pain can radiate to the chest or arms
- no associated belching or vomiting
Causes of GERD?
- medications = morphine, diazepam, calcium channel blockers
- spicy food
- alcohol ingestion
- smoking cigarettes
- increased abdominal pressure from = obesity or pregnancy
Treatment choices for GERD - self help:
Diet therapy = frequent small meals, dont eat before bed
Positioning = sit up during & after meals, elevate your head when sleeping
Increase your fluid intake
Stop smoking
Treatment choices for GERD - drug therapy:
- antacids
- histamine type-2 receptor antagonists
- proton pump inhibitors
- cholinergic agents
- Peptic ulcers - what are they?
- erosions in the mucosal membrane of the upper gastrointestinal tract, lower oesophagus, stomach & duodenum
- happen when the gastric mucosal barrier is disrupted
- pepsin & hydrochloric acid act on the gastrointestinal wall
Symptoms = burning abdominal pain, heartburn, poor appetite, bloated, burping / sickness, throwing up food
Common ulcer sites & types:
Erosion = penetration of only the superficial layer
Acute ulcer = penetration into the muscle layer
Perforating ulcer = penetration of the wall
Causes of peptic ulcers:
- bacterial infection with helicobacter pylori
- use of non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs = aspirin & ibuprofen
Treatment choices for peptic ulcers - self help:
- stop taking non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs
- avoid irritating food & drink
Treatment choices for peptic ulcers - drug therapy:
Antibiotics = used for h. Pylori positive patients in combination with a proton pump inhibitors
- proton pump inhibitors
- h2 receptor antagonists
Inflammatory bowel diseases - what are the two main types?
Crohn’s Disease = patchy inflammation throughout the large and small bowel
Ulcerative Colitis = continuous and uniform inflammation in the large bowel
Symptoms of IBD:
- abdominal pain
- diarrhoea
- bloody stool
- fever
- fatigue
- weight loss
- malnutrition
- Crohn’s Disease - what is it?
- inflammation spreads slowly & progressively
- can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract
Possible causes of Crohn’s Disease?
- genetics
- immune disorders
- allergies
- previous infection
- smoking
Treatment / cure of Crohn’s disease?
- no cure
- treatment = stops inflammatory process, relieves symptoms & avoids surgery
- Ulcerative Colitis - what is it?
- inflammation damages mucosal & submucosal layers of the large intestine
What causes ulcerative colitis?
- autoimmune condition
- genetics
- stress
- infection
What is colorectal cancer?
- slow growing adenocarcinoma, starts on the inner layer of the colon
- potentially curable if diagnosed early enough
Symptoms of colorectal cancer:
- variable
- depends on size & location of tumour
Who is at increased risk for colorectal cancer?
- age
- weight
- diet
- exercise
- alcohol
- smoking
- family history
- bowel diseases
- type 2 diabetes
What is the treatment for colorectal cancer?
- surgical removal
- chemotherapy
- radiotherapy
