Stomach Flashcards
Remind yourself of some potential causes of haematemesis
- Oesophageal varices
- Gastric ulceration
- Mallory-Weiss tear
- Oesophagitis
- Gastritis
- Gastric malignancy
- Vascular malformations e.g. Dieulafoy lesion
- Mecke;s’ diverticulum
BOLD= emergencies
State some key questions/facts to establish in haematemsis history
- Timing
- Freqeuncy
- Volume
- What is looks like e.g. coffee ground, clots etc…
- History of dyspepsia, dysphagia or odynophagia
- PMH
- Smoking & alcohol
- Use of steroids, NSAIDs, anticoags, bisphosphonates
What investigations are required for someone with haematemsis?
Bedside
- VBG:give you Hb quicker
Bloods
- FBC: Hb
- U&Es: urea, renal func
- LFTs: ?cause
- Clotting: bleeding
- Group & save: all should have
- Crossmatch: if significant crossmatch as least 4 units
Imaging
- OGD: within 12-24hrs
- Erect CXR: if ?ruptured peptic ulcer
- ?CT abdomen with IV contrast triple phase: if OGD unremarkabl or pt too unwell for OGD
Remind yourself of the Glasgow-Blatchford score
Helps us to risk stratify pts with upper GI bleeding to determine how best to manage them
What are some other scoring systems, other than Glasgow Blatchford, that can be used in haematemesis?
- Rockall (pre and post endoscopic): risk of rebleeding or death in pts with upper GI bleed
- AIMS65: in hospital mortality from upper GI bleeds
Discuss the general management of heamatemesis
- A-E
- Bloods
- Access (two wide bore cannulas)
- Transfuse (fluids, blood, FFP, prothrombin complex etc…)
- Endoscopy within 12-24hr
- Drugs
- Stop NSAIDs, warfarin etc..
- Start IV terlipresssin & broad spectrum abx in oesophageal varices
- Adrenaline injections in peptic ulcer disease. Some clinicians will give high dose IV PPI (40mg)
Treat the underlying cause!
Define a hernia
Define a hiatus hernia
- Hernia= protrusion of part of a whole organ through the wall of the cavity that contains it
- Hiatus hernia= protrusion of an organ from the abdominal cavity into the thorax through the oesophageal hiatus
Discuss the prevelance of hiatus hernias
- ~33% of >50yrs have hiatus hernia
- Majority are asymptomatic
State and describe the 4 subtypes of hiatus hernia
- Type 1/Sliding hiatus hernia (80%): the gastroesophageal junction (GOJ), abdominal part of oesophagus & frequenlty the cardia of the stomach moves or ‘slides’ upwards through the diaphragmatic hiatus into the thorax
- Type 2/Rolling or para-oesophageal hernia (20%): upward movement of the gastric fundus to lie alongside a normally positioned GOJ.
- Type 3/mixed type
- Type 4: large opening with additioan abdominal organs passing through diaphragm opening e.g. bowel, omentum, pancreas etc…
**NOTE: mixed type hernias can also occur
State some risk factors for hiatus hernias- highlighted the biggest risk factors
- Age
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- Ascites
Why is age a risk factor for hiatus hernia?
Why is pregnancy, obesity & ascites a risk factor for hiatus hernia?
Age:
- Loss of diaphragmatic tone
- Increased intraabdominal pressure
- Increase in size of diaphragmatic hiatus
Pregnancy, obesity & ascites:
- Increase intraabdominal pressure
- Superior displacement of viscera
The majority of hiatus hernias are asymptomatic; however, if a pt does get symptoms what symptoms & signs may they present with
- GORD
- Hiccups (large enuogh to irritate diaphragm)
- Palpitations (large enough to irritate pericardium)
- Bleeding &/or anaemia (secondary to oesophageal ulceration)
- Vomiting & weight loss (rare. If gastric outflow becomes blocked can lead to early satiety & vomiting)
- Swallowing difficulties (usually due to oesophageal stricture but rarely due to incarceration of hernia)
What investigations are required if you suspect a hiatus hernia?
- OGD (passmed says most pts often have this first due to nature of symptoms. Teach me surgery says it is gold standard)
- Barium swallow (passmed says most sensitive)
What would you find on OGD of someone with hiatus hernia?
Upward displacement of Z line
Z line= GOJ
Discuss the management of hiatus hernias, include:
- Conservative
- Surgical
Conservative (similar to GORD)
- Weight loss
- Low fat diet
- Smaller portions
- Sleep with head raised
- Reduce alcohol
- Smoking cesssation
Medical
- First line= PPI
Surgical
- Curoplasty: hernia is reduced back into abdomen and the hiatus reapproximated to approprite size
- Fundoplication: gastric fundus wrapped around lower oesophagus and stitched in place to help keep GOJ in place below diaphragmn and prevent reflux
Why is reduction in alcohol and smoking cessation advised in hiatus hernias & GORD?
Alcohol and nicotine thought to inhibit LOS function and hence worsen symptoms
Which pts, with hiatus hernias, are considered for surgery?
- Symptomatic despite max medical therapy
- Increased risk of strangulation or volvulus
- Nutritional failure
NOTE: any pt with suspected strangulation of volvulus should have stomach decompressed with NG tube prior to surgery
Why are PPIs given to pts with hiatus hernias?
When must you take a PPI and why?
- Reduce gastric acid and symptom control (may have GORD)
- Must take PPI in morning before food (30 mins or so). Eating stimulates stomach acid secretion and hence if you take before eating the drug can have maximal effect as when you eat all H+/K+ ATPase will be working and the PPI can have effect. If you take just before eating by the time the PPIs work stomach will have stopped producing stomach acid.
State some complications of surgery to correct hiatus hernias
Despite complications success rate of repair is excellent. Some complications include:
- Recurrence of hernia
- Abdominal bloating (due to inability to belch secondary to improved anti-reflux mechanism)
- Dysphagia (if repair made oesophagus too narrow. Common after surgery due to oedema. Usually settles in most but may persist and need revision)
- Fundal necrosis (surgical emergency requirng major gastric resection)
Which type of hernia (out of the sliding or rolling/para-oesophageal) are more prone to incarceration & strangulation?
Rolling/para-oesophageal type
A gastric volvulus (stomach twists on itself by 180 degrees) can occur as a result of a hiatus hernia leading to obstruction of gastric passage and tissue necrosis. It requires prompt surgical intervention.
What triad does this clinically present with?
Borchardt’s triad:
- Severe epigastric pain
- Retching without vomitting
- Inability to pass NG tube
Remind yourself what a petic ulcer is
Breach in lower oesophagus, gastric or duodenal muscosa that extends through muscularis mucosa