Rapid Style Questions Flashcards
What is the most common cause of acute cholecystitis?
Gallstones obstructing the cystic duct
Which physical exam finding is classically associated with acute cholecystitis?
Murphy’s Sign
Murphy’s Sign: RUQ pain/tenderness with deep palpation during inspiration (halts inspiration)
What is the first-line imaging modality for suspected acute cholecystitis?
Abdominal Ultrasound
Transabdominal gallbladder US is best test to detect gallstones and evaluate GB disease
* Ultrasonographic Murphy sign: local abdominal tenderness over GB
* Pericholecystic fluid and GB wall thickening indicates acute inflammation
Classically CT scans are done in the ED, but they are not first-line nor the best test in diagnosing acute cholecystitis
Why is a transabdominal ultrasound superior to CT scans in diagnosing acute cholecystitis?
- Visualization of Gallbladder Wall and Structures: US is superior when visualizing the GB and detecting its thickening, which is a key indicator of acute cholecystitis
- Reproduction of Murphy’s Sign
- Non-invasive and is a quick test in the ED
Although labs can be normal in acute cholecystitis, what are some common labatory findings?
- Elevated WBC
- LFT’s normal to slightly elevated
- Elevated bilirubin and alk phos
- Lipase
What is the initial management for a patient presenting with acute cholecystitis?
IV Fluids, antibiotics, and pain control
What surgical procedure is commonly performed for acute cholecystitis?
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Earlier is better, within 24-48 hours is ideal
Which antibiotic is commonly used for treating acute cholecystitis?
Piperacillin-tazobactam or ceftriaxone w/metronidazole
What complication occurs when the gallbladder wall becomes ischemic and necrotic?
Gangrenous cholecystitis
What is the role of a HIDA scan in diagnosing acute cholecystitis?
To confirm diagnosis when ultrasound findings are equivocal
What finding on ultrasound is indicative of acute cholecystitis?
Gallbladder wall thickening, pericholecystic fluid, and a positive Murphy’s sign
Positive Murphy’s sign reproduced during exam
What is a non-surgical alternative procedure for acute cholecystitis when surgery is contraindicated?
Percutaneous cholecystostomy
A percutaneous cholecystostomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to drain the gallbladder, typically performed in patients with acute cholecystitis who are not candidates for immediate surgery.
What is the common pathogen of acute cholecystitis?
What is the typical duration of abx treatment?
E. coli
5-7 days post surgery
What imaging finding is described as a “porcelain gallbladder” and why is it significant?
Calcification of the gallbladder wall, significant because it can be associated with an increased risk of gallbladder cancer
What is the name of the condition where a stone obstructs the common bile duct, often presenting with jaundice?
Choledocholithiasis
What is the typical cause of chronic cholecystitis?
What are common symptoms of chronic cholecystitis?
Repeated episodes of acute cholecystitis or chronic irritation caused by gallstones
Intermittent RUQ pain, nausea, and bloating (especially after fatty meal
What is the typical imaging finding in chronic cholecysitits?
Thickened gallbladder wall and presence of gallstones
Are LFT’s elevated in chronic cholecystitis?
No, they are usually normal as well as white blood cell counts
These can be normal or elevated in acute cholecystitis
What is the definitive treatment for chronic cholecystitis?
Cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder)
Are men or women more affected by chronic cholecystitis?
Women (Middle-aged)
What is a common complication of untreated chronic cholecystitis?
- Gallbladder cancer
- Gallstone ileus
How does chronic cholecystitis differ from acute cholecystitis in terms of presentation?
Chronic cholecystitis presents with intermittent and less severe symptoms compared to the acute, severe pain and systemic symptoms of acute cholecystitis
What dietary modification can help manage symptoms of chronic cholecystitis?
Because what type of gallstone are most common in chronic cholecystitis?
Reducing Fatty Foods
Cholesterol gallstones
What type of cholelithiasis (gallstone) is related to cirrhosis?
Black Stones
What is the best imaging test to diagnose stones in the common bile duct (choledocholithiasis)?
ERCP
What is the biggest risk factor associated with gastric cancer?
What factors can reduce risk?
H. Pylori
Chronic aspirin or NSAID use, and wine
What is the most common gastric cancer type?
Adenocarcinoma
What are Virchow’s nodes?
Supraclavicular nodes seen in gastric cancer
What finding on physical exam strongly suggests choledocholithiasis?
Icterus (yellowing of the sclera)
What symptom might a patient with choledocholithiasis experience after eating a fatty meal?
Biliary colic (severe abdominal pain)
What is a common cause of secondary choledocholithiasis?
Migration of gallstones from the gallbladder into the common bile duct.
What condition must be ruled out in a patient with suspected choledocholithiasis and severe right upper quadrant pain?
What lab findings suggest bile duct obstruction?
Acute pancreatitis
Elevated bilirubin, particularly direct (conjugated) bili
On imaging in a patient with choledocholithiasis is the bile duct constricted or dilated?
What imaging can be done if US is inconclusive?
Dilated
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
Which symptom differentiates choledocholithiasis from uncomplicated cholelithiasis?
Jaundice
What serious complication can arise from choledocholithiasis if not treated?
What is choledocholithiasis?
Cholangitis
Gallstones in the common bile duct
What is the gold standard diagnostic procedure for choledocholithiasis?
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
What is the definition of chronic hepatitis?
Which hepatits is most likely to progress to chronic infection?
Hepatitis lasting more than 6 months
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
What serologic marker indicates chronic hepatitis B infection?
HBsAg positive for more than 6 months
Which hepatitis virus is most commonly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma?
Hepatitis B (HBV)
What is the goal of antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B?
To suppress HBV DNA to undetectable levels and normalize ALT levels
Which direct-acting antiviral (DAA) class is used to treat chronic hepatitis C?
- NS5A inhibitors
- NS5B polymerase inhibitors
- Protease inhibitors
What screening test is recommended for patients with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis to monitor for hepatocellular carcinoma?
Liver ultrasound every 6 months
What serologic marker indicates immunity to hepatitis B due to vaccination?
Anti-HBs (Hepatitis B surface antibody)
Which hepatitis virus can lead to fulminant liver failure in pregnant women?
Hepatitis E virus (HEV)
Which serologic marker indicates a resolved hepatitis B infection?
Positive anti-HBs and anti-HBc with negative HBsAg
Which hepatitis virus is associated with the highest risk of chronic infection in neonates?
Hepatits B virus
What is the most common cause of acute appendicitis?
Obstruction of the appendiceal lumen, often by a fecalith
What is the initial symptom of acute appendicitis?
What physical exam finding is indicative of appendcitis?
Periumbilical pain that later localizes to the right lower quadrant
McBurney’s point tenderness
What sign involves pain in the right lower quadrant with palpation of the left lower quadrant?
Rovsing’s sign
What is the imaging modality of choice for diagnosing appendicitis in adults?
What about in children and pregnant persons?
CT of abdomen and pelvis
Ultrasound
What laboratory finding is commonly associated with appendicitis?
Elevated white blood cell count (leukocytosis)
What antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended before appendectomy?
What is the definitive treatment for acute appendicitis?
A single dose of a broad-spectrum antibiotic such as cefoxitin or cefazolin with metronidazole
Appendectomy
Is surgery indicative in a patient with appendicitis who on imaging has a fecalith present?
Yes
What is the name of the sign where there is pain upon passive extension of the right hip?
Psoas sign
What is the name of the sign where there is pain upon internal rotation of the flexed right thigh?
Obturator sign
What complication can arise if appendicitis is left untreated?
Perforation leading to peritonitis or abscess formation
What is a common differential diagnosis for appendicitis in young women?
Ovarian Cyst
Ectopic Pregnancy
What is the typical initial symptom of appendicitis?
What is the treatment?
Crampy or “colicky” pain around the umbilicus
Surgical appendectomy
What is the most common symptom of appendicitis in children?
Right lower quadrant pain
A 10-year old child presents with periumbilical pain that later localizes to the right lower quadrant. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Appendicitis
What is the most common complication of appendicitis in pediatric patients?
Peritonitis
True or False: Appendicitis can sometimes present with diarrhea in pediatric patients
True
At what age does colic peak?
When does it typically end?
Peaks 2-3 months of age
4 months of age
What is the Rule of 3’s in infantile colic?
Cry –> 3 hrs/day, 3d/wk, for 3 weeks
True or False: Constipation can lead to urinary incontinence in children.
True
What are the most accurate signs of moderate to severe dehydration in kids?
- Prolonged capillary refill
- Poor skin turgor
- Abnormal breathing
What congenital disorder is classified by the absence or complete closure of a portion of the lumen of the duodenum?
What is seen in utero in this diagnosis?
Duodenal Atresia
Increased levels of amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios)
What is the most common presenting symptom of duodenal atresia in a newborn?
Bilious vomiting
What is the most frequent viral cause of diarrhea in children?
Rotavirus
What is the hallmark presentation of Hirschsprungs Disease?
Delayed passage of meconium
Encopresis in children is almost always associated to what underlying condition?
Severe Constipation
What is the most likely etiology for diarrhea after a picnic (i.e. egg salad)?
Staph. aureus
What is the etiology of travelers diarrhea?
E.coli
Vibrio cholerae infection is associated with the consumption of what food?
Shellfish
Is a nighttime cough associated with GERD?
Yes, nighttime cough can indeed be associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In children and adults, GERD can cause a variety of respiratory symptoms, and cough is one of the more common manifestations, particularly when it occurs at night.
a
True/False: Esophageal pH monitoring is the gold standard for diagnosing GERD in children of all ages.
False (It is informative but not necessarily the standard for all ages, particularly in infants where clinical presentation is often sufficient)
Neonatal jaundice appears when total bilirubin levels are above what value?
At what level does neonatal hyperbili require treatment?
2mg/dL
Levels greater than 18
When is a Coomb’s test done?
To evaluate neonatal jaundice
What is the definitive diagnosis for lactose intolerance?
Lactose hydrogen breath test
Are gastric or duodenal peptic ulcers more common?
What are the two biggest risk factors of peptic ulcer formation?
Duodenal
H. Pylori and NSAID use
What is the most common cause of an upper gastrointestinal bleed?
What increases the risk of bleeding?
Peptic Ulcer Disease
NSAIDs
Does food exacerbate or alleviate symptoms in peptic ulcers?
Duodenal ulcer: pain is alleviated by ingesting food (mnemonic: DUDe, give me food)
Gastric ulcer: pain is exacerbated by ingesting food
Which risk factors should prompt a GERD patient to be screened for Barrett’s esophagus?
Presence of multiple risk factors including age ≥ 50, central obesity, chronic GERD, cigarette smoking, hernia, male gender, white race, and a confirmed history of Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma in a first-degree relative.
What is the most common risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus?
What is the most common esophageal cancer in the U.S.?
Smoking and alcohol use
Adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell is the most common worldwide
What is the screening recommendation for esophageal cancer in patients with known Barrett’s Esophagus?
Screening endoscopy every 3-5 years
Which nerve is most likely injured when patients with esophageal cancer have a hoarse voice?
The recurrent laryngeal nerve
What is the diagnostic test of choice in diagnosing acute diverticulitis?
What is contraindicated due to risk of perferation?
Abdominal CT with contrast
Barium enema or colonoscopy
What finding is seen on abdominal radiographs with bowel perforation?
Free air under the diaghragm
What bowel disease is classically associated with toxic megacolon?
Ulcerative Colitis
The presention of dysphagia, regurgitation of undigested food, and halitosis is consistent with what GI diagnosis?
What is the diagnostic study of choice?
Zenker’s Diverticulum
Barium Swallow
What is the most common etiology of appendicitis?
Fecalith
Describe the special tests applicable to working up appendicitis?
- Rovsing Sign: RLQ pain with LLQ palpation
- Obturator Sign: RLQ pain with internal rotation of the hip
- Psoas Sign: RLQ pain with right hip flexion/extension (raise leg against resistance)
- McBurney’s point tenderness: point one third of the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the belly button
What finding on abdominal x-ray should make you think of bowel obstruction?
Air Fluid Levels (“string of pearls” or “stack of coins”)
What imaging modality should be ordered immediately in the work-up of a suspected bowel obstruction?
What is the imaging modality of choice?
Obtain plain radiographs (KUB) to quickly confirm a diagnosis of bowel obstruction, and, provided the films do not have findings that indicate the need for immediate intervention, then use computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis to further characterize the nature, severity, and potential etiologies of the obstruction
Abdominal CT
What will be seen on the KUB postive for a bowel obstruction?
What is the treatment?
KUB shows dilated small bowel loops (< 3 cm), air-fluid levels in the small bowel with valvulae conniventes visible across the full width of the bowel, string of pearls (multiple air-fluid levels), and paucity of gas in the colon
NG tube or surgery
Is vomiting more common in small bowel obstructions or large bowel obstructions?
Small Bowel Obstructions
What is the recommended treatment for mild-to-moderate GERD?
What drug class is used when first line treatment fails?
Histamine 2 receptor antagonists such as cimetidine or famotidine
PPI’s (omeprazole)
What is the most common type of hiatal hernia and how does it commonly present?
A sliding hiatal hernia is the most common and it typically presents with GERD symptoms refractory to treatment with a PPI and symptoms worse at night
What is Budd Chiari Syndrome?
What is it associated with?
a triad of abdominal pain, ascites, and hepatomegaly
Cirrhosis