Peptic ulcers and GORD Flashcards
What us dyspepsia?
A Group of symptoms that suggest UGI disease:
• Persistent or recurrent Pain or discomfort in epigastrium (‘ulcer-like’)
may include
• Heartburn/ regurgitation (‘GORD-like’)
• Bloating, nausea, vomiting, excess wind (‘dysmotility-like’)
• Early satiety and post-prandial fullness
What are the red flag symptoms in upper GI conditions?
• Dysphagia • Weight loss (unintentional) • Persistent vomiting • Epigastric mass • GI bleeding • Iron deficiency • New onset dyspepsia/ persistent unexplained symptoms > 55y - Blood in stool (melena)
What are 4 most common causes if dyspepsia, list in order
50-75 % Non-ulcer dyspepsia
• 15-25% Peptic ulcer disease
• 5-15% Oesophagitis
• <2% Cancer
What is Non- ulcer dyspepsia (functional dyspepsia)?
When someone suffers from upper GI pain and discomfort with but when an endoscopy is conducted no lesions are found. H. pylori may be responsible for some cases Disturbances include issues in: • GI motility • Visceral sensation • Gastric accommodation • Intestino-gastric reflexes • Gastric acid sensitivity • Psycho-social factors
How is Non- ulcer dyspepsia (functional dyspepsia) treated?
Improves with time and symptomatic treatment (PPI)
Which drugs can cause dyspepsia?
NSAIDS Steroids Bisphosphonates Metformin Theophylline Calcium antagonists
What happens when a patient has red flag GI symptoms?
2 week referral for gastroscopy
What are the different causes of epigastric pain?
GERD
Peptic ulcers
Dyspepsia
Gastritis
Pancreatitis
Cancers (gastric, oesophageal, pancreatic)
Referred or misappropriate pain (pelvic pain)- always consider pregnancy and give a pregnancy test
What are the risk factors for GORD?
Obesity (increased pressure in the abdomen)
Smoking
Increased age
Family history - genetic association
Hiatal hernia - part of the upper stomach pushes up through the diaphragm
NSAIDS, caffeine, alcohol
Pregnancy
Certain drugs are known to relax the lower oesophageal sphincter ( calcium channel blockers)
What is GORD?
The symptoms and mucosal damage found in GERD is caused by the reflux of gastric contents into distal oesophagus’.
Can be caused by excessive relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter which causes the back flow of stomach content into the oesophagus
How is the pain in heart burn often described?
Burning pain/ heart burning pain
It can radiate along the oesophagus so the pain can be described as epigastric but also substernal pain (below or behind the sternum)
Typically presents after meals and is made worse by lying down or bending over
Outside of pain which other symptoms may patients mention when describing GORD?
Sore throat- erosion due to the acid Hoarseness of the voice- if larynx is affected Cough or wheeze bad taste in their mouth (metallic) Vomiting/ Nausea Regurgitation Dyspepsia Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) Odynophagia (painful swallowing)
What are the differential diagnosis for someone with heart burn/ chest pain?
Angina (more of a crushing pain)
Achalasia (failed relaxation of LOS after swallowing)- typically presents as dysphagia, pain with eating. Less of a burning sensation
Eosinophilic oesophagitis
Pericarditis
Ischaemic heart disease
Peptic ulcer disease- Comes on at night and is limited to epigastrium. Does not radiate up the oesophagus
Malignancy
How is GORD diagnosed?
2 week Therapeutic trial with proton pump inhibitor for patients with clear GORD symptoms without alarm symptoms
pH-
- 24-hour pH testing/ monitoring (Gold standard)
- Prolonged wireless pH capsule testing
(Usually combined with gastroscopy)- used when questioning GORD or when PPI trial therapy fails
Gastroscopy-
Used for those with red flag symptoms, suspected complications, not responding to treatment, considered for surgery
(50% have no lesions on endoscopy)
What is the classification criteria for GORD?
Los Angeles classification-
Grade A: ≥1 mucosal break, each ≤ 5mm (limited to mucosal fold)
Grade B: ≥1 mucosal break > 5mm. Not continuous between top of mucosal folds (limited to mucosal fold)
Grade C: ≥1 mucosal break, continuous between top of mucosal folds (goes over the mucosal fold, not circumferential
Grade D: mucosal breaks involving more than three quarters of luminal circumference
What are the Extra-oesophageal manifestations of GORD?
- Middle ear problems
- Chronic sinusitis
- Dental erosions and (bad breath) halitosis
- Sore throat/ pharyngitis/ laryngitis
- Cough
- Asthma
- Aspiration pneumonia
How is the conservative treatment for GORD?
Education and life style modification:
- Weight loss
- Smoking cessation
- Dietary modification (do not eat 2 hours before sleeping)
- Eliminate foods which trigger symptoms if possible
- Try sleep with the head of the bed elevated
What is the medical treatment options for GORD?
PPI’s - PPIs prevent acid production within the stomach through inhibition of H+/K+ ATPases in parietal cells.
alternatives - Ranitidine (histamine receptor antagonist) and over the counter antacids