stomach, pancreas, liver and gallbladder conditions Flashcards
what is appendicitis?
inflammation of the appendix
what are the s&s of appendicitis?
generalised pain around the umbilicus (moves to the R iliac fossa)
decreased appetite
fever, nausea, sweating
what aggravates the pain in appendicitis?
moving
coughing
what examination findings will you find in appendicitis?
tenderness of McBurney’s point
rosving’s sign (palpation of L iliac fossa causes pain in R iliac fossa)
guarding
rebound tenderness
auscultation: absent bowel sound
what is cholycistitis?
inflammation of the gallbladder
what is the cause of cholecystitis?
gallstones
what is biliary colic?
non-inflammatory damage of the gallbladder due to gallstones (no signs of fever)
what is the most common content of gallstones?
cholesterol
what are s&s of biliary colic?
R upper quadrant pain with possible referred pain to the interscapular region
pain persists for 15 min to 24 hrs
nausea and vomiting
US is diagnosis of choice
what are s&s of cholycistitis?
continuous epigastric or RUQ pain
vomiting, fever
local peritonism
gallbladder mass
+ve murphy’s sign
what are s&s of both cholecystitis and biliary colic?
r upper quadrant pain
pain worse with fatty meals
signs of fever (only in cholecystitis)
what examination findings will you find in cholecystitis and biliary colic?
murphy sign (hand under ribcage of patient, pt breaths in +ve when pain on R but not on L)
what are the risk factors for gallstones?
female
>40
obesity
high fat/ low fibre diet
decreased gallbladder motility
multiparity
diabetes
cystic fibrosis
prolonged fasting
what area can pain coming from the gallbladder be referred to?
the shoulder tip
what is are the functions of the liver?
immunity against infection
regulates blood clotting
factory for proteins and cholesterol
clears blood from toxins and processes drugs
excretes waste to bile
converts excess glucose to glycogen for storage
gluconeogenesis
excretes bile for fat digestion
what is hepatitis?
viral hepatitis or inflammation of the liver caused by any hepatitis viruses
how are hepatitis A and E transmitted?
via faecal or through the oral route and tend to lead to an acute disease
how are hepatitis B and D transmitted?
via blood or bodily fluids and can lead to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
what is cirrhosis (non-alcohol fatty liver disease)?
fatty degeneration and scarring of the liver due to chronic irritation of toxins (eg drugs), alcohol or glucose
what are the s&s of cirrhosis?
pain in RUQ and back
jaundice ( conjugated bilirubin, seen in sclera)
ascites in abdomen and ankles (due to increased plasma protein production)
nodules/enlarged liver on palpation
nail clubbing
palmar erythemia
>5 spider naevi
gynaecomastia
+ve shifting dullness test
what are the possible causes of ascites?
cirrhosis
malignancy
heart failure
protein losing enteropathy
tuberculosis
pancreatitis
what is portal hypertension?
fibrosis and scarring of the liver lead to increased vascular resistance also called portal hypertension
what are the most common signs of liver failure?
jaundice
spider naevi
palmar erhythema
bruising
clubbing
hepatomegaly and a nodular liver
oedema/ascites
gynaecomastia
what is jaundice?
the yellow discolouration caused by bilirubin accumulation in the tissue
what is coeliac disease?
allergic reaction to gluten
what are s&s of coeliac disease?
tiredness
malaise
weight loss
diarrhoea
steatorrhea (fats in faeces)
abdominal distention and pain
signs of anaemia may be present
what are patients with coeliac disease more at risk for?
peripheral neuropathies
osteoporosis (poor Ca2+ and vit D absorption)
what investigation is done for coeliac disease?
endoscopy and bioscopy
serology (IgA antibodies/tissue tranglutaminase (TTG))
bone density
what is diverticular disease?
conditions caused by diverticula (small pouches within the gut wall)
what are s&s of diverticular disease?
low abdominal pain (usually L iliac fossa)
bloating and constipation
nausea and vomiting
possible rectal bleeding
what are exacerbating and relieving factors of diverticular disease?
exacerbated: eating
relieving: defecation and flatus
what is diverticulosis?
diverticula without symptoms
what is diverticular disease?
diverticula with symptoms
what is diverticulitis?
inflamed diverticula (fever, tachycardia etc)
what are s&s of colorectal cancer?
bleeding from rectum
passing mucus with faeces
change in bowel habit (usually more frequently)
feeling of not fully emptying rectum after passing faeces
persistent abdominal pains
anaemia
weight loss
abdominal mass