Small Bowel Flashcards
What is the most common causes of small bowel obstruction the US?
1) adhesions from prior surgery
2) hernia
3) neoplasm
What percent of patients who present with SBO will require a surgery during the index admission?
approx 25%
What is the difference between open loop and closed loop bowel obstructions?
open loop obstructions are able to be decompressed via an NG tube; closed loop obstructions are closed at both the proximal and the distal ends
What is the electrolyte profile abnormality seen in any patient who has been vomiting for a significant time?
hypokalemic, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis with a paradoxical aciduria
What are the indications for immediate surgery in a patient with a SBO?
- peritonitis
- evidence of bowel perforation
- Closed loop obstructions
- bowel strangulation
What percent of patients with Crohn’s Disease will ultimate require an operation?
70%
What are the macroscopic findings in Crohn’s Disease?
- fat wrapping
- aphthous ulcers
- transmural inflammation
What are the 3 general “types” or categories of Crohn’s Disease?
- fibrostenotic
- inflammatory
- penetrating
What are the effects of smoking on Crohn’s Disease?
- higher incidence of fibrostenotic and penetrating types
- worse perianal disease
- high rates of surgery
- high rates of post-surgical recurrence
What is the top down approach to Crohn’s Disease medications?
1) 5-ASA or sulfasalazine
2) Systemic steroids
3) Immunomodulators (azathiprine, 6-mercaptopurine, or methotrexate)
4) Biologics (Infliximab, adalimumab, cetrolizumab)
If a patient is on 5-ASA or sulfasalazine, when should these medications be stopped and started in regards to surgery?
they can be taken up to the day of surgery and restarted immediately after
What are the currently available biologics used in the treatment of Crohn’s Disease? How do they work?
- infliximab (Remicade), Adalimumab (Humira), and certolizumab pegol ( Cimzia)
- all inhibit TNF mediated inflammation
What is the most common indication for surgery for Crohn’s Disease?
medically refractory disease
What cancers are patients with Crohn’s Disease at increased risk for?
- primary small bowel adenocarcinoma
- Colorectal cancer
What should always be performed in a patient with Crohn’s Disease that is undergoing a stricturoplasty?
a biopsy of the stricture because many times malignancy of the small bowel in the setting of Crohn’s Disease does not present with a mass
What are the advantages of stricturoplasty compared to resection in Crohn’s Disease? Disadvantages?
- Advantages: decreased recurrence rate, preserved bowel length, and possible restoration of function
- Disadvantages: longer operative time, slightly increased risk of post-operative bleeding
How would you surgically treat a symptomatic enteroenteric fistula in a Crohn’s Disease patient?
resection of the diseased segment of bowel with transverse closure of the innocent bystander segment of bowel. If the bystander segment does not appear to be healthy (inflammed, edematous, etc) or situated on the mesenteric side then resection should occur
How would you surgically treat an enterovesicular fistual in Crohn’s Disease?
resection and primary anastomosis of the diseased bowel and oversew the bladder with an absorbable suture (vicryl) to avoid future stone formation
How would you surgically treat an enterovaginal or intrauterine fistula in Crohn’s Disease?
resection of the disease bowel with primary anastomosis. The uterus or vagina will often heal spontaneously after resection of the diseased bowel
What are the absolute contraindications to stricturoplasty in Crohn’s Disease?
- perforation
- Neoplasia
- fistula
- severe malnutrition
What are the relative contraindications to stricturoplasty in Crohn’s Disease?
- Abscess
- Long, severely narrowed segments of bowel
What percent of patients with Crohn’s Disease who undergo a first operation will require a second operation?
approx 50%
What is the treatment of choice for symptomatic nonphlegmonous jejune-ileal Crohn’s Disease fibrotic strictures?
strictureplasty
When is strictureplasty contraindicated in Crohn’s Disease?
- impaired nutritional status
- Dyplasia or cancer at the stricture site
- Localregional sepsis (abscess, phlegmon, peritonitis)
When should azathioprine be stopped when preparing a Crohn’s Disease patient for the OR?
- it shouldn’t be stopped. Azathioprine has no impact on post-operative morbidity and should be maintained through surgery
What is the main determinants in choosing between types of strictureplasty?
- length of stricture and number of strictures
Briefly describe the Heineke-Mikulicz strictureplasty? What length of stricture is ideal for this type of repair?
- a longitudinal incision is made on the anti mesenteric side of the bowel extending 2 cm proximal and distal to the stricture. The enterotomy is then close in a transverse fashion.
- strictures
How does the Judd strictureplasty differ from the Heineke-Mikulicz strictureplasty?
The Judd strictureplasty is used when a fistula is present in the proposed site of the enterotomy. The enterotomy incorporates the fistula and then the bowel is closed the same as the Heineke-Mikulicz technique.