Surgery Flashcards
Appendicitis
Inflammation of the appendix
Appendicitis pathophysiology
- typically caused by direct luminal obstruction, usually either secondary to a faecolith or lymphoid hyperplasia
- when obstructed, commensal bacteria in the appendix can multiply → acute inflammation
- reduced venous drainage & localised inflammation → increased pressure with appendix → ischaemia within the appendiceal wall
- if left untreated → necrosis → perforation
Appendicitis risk factors
- family history
- ethnicity
- environmental - summer
Appendicitis clinical features
- dull peri-umbilical pain that is poorly localised but later migrates to the right iliac fossa becoming localised & sharp
- vomiting
- anorexia
- nausea
- diarrhoea
- sepsis
- on examination:
- rebound tenderness & percussion tenderness over McBurney’s point → can progress to guarding
- right lower abdomen mass
- Rovsing’s sign
- Psoas sign
Appendicitis ix
- urinalysis
- pregnancy test
- routine bloods
- clinical assessment alone can be sufficient
Appendicitis mx
laparoscopic appendicectomy
Appendicitis complications
- perforation
- surgical site infection
- appendiceal mass
- abscess formation
Biliary atresia
Progressive fibrosis and obliteration of the extrahepatic and intrahepatic biliary tree
Without intervention, chronic liver failure develops and death occurs
Biliary atresia clinical features
- mild jaundice
- pale stools (colour may fluctuate but becomes increasingly pale as the disease progresses)
- normal birthweight followed by faltering growth
- hepatomegaly is often present initially
- splenomegaly develops due to portal hypertension
Biliary atresia ix
- raised conjugated bilirubin
- abnormal LFTs
- fasting abdominal ultrasound may demonstrate a contracted/absent gallbladder
- diagnosis confirmed with cholangiogram → fails to outline a normal biliary tree
- liver biopsy → initially demonstrates neonatal hepatitis with features of extrahepatic biliary obstruction developing with time
Biliary atresia mx
- palliative surgery with a Kasai hepatoportoenterostomy
- bypasses the fibrotic ducts and facilitates drainage of bile from any remaining patent ductules
- early surgery increases success rate
- disease progresses in most children → develop cholangitis & cirrhosis with portal hypertension
- nutrition & fat-soluble vitamin supplementation is essential
- liver transplantation can be considered
Epididymitis pathophysiology
- usually caused by local extension of infection from the lower urinary tract
- in males aged <35 years old, the most likely mechanism is sexual transmission
- most common organisms are N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis
- often secondary to bladder outflow obstruction from prostatic enlargement, leading to retrograde ascent of the pathogen
- most common organisms are N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis
Mumps orchitis
- orchitis can occur as a common complication of a mumps viral infection, occurring in up to 40% of post-pubertal boys with mumps infection
- presents as unilateral or bilateral orchitis, typically accompanied with a fever, around 4-8 days after the onset of mumps parotitis
- can lead to complications such as testicular atrophy & infertility
- if mumps is suspected → mumps IgM/IgG serology should be measured, notifiable disease
Epididymitis RFs
- men who have sex with men
- multiple sexual partners
- a known contact of gonorrhoea
Epididymitis clinical features
- unilateral scrotal pain with associated swelling
- fever
- rigors
- associated symptoms → dysuria, storage LUTS, urethral discharge
- examination
- affected side will be red and swollen
- tender on palpation
- may be associated hydrocele
- Prehn’s sign → pain is relieved by elevation of the scrotum
Epididymitis ix
- urine dipstick
- first-void urine should be collected and sent for NAAT
- routine bloods
- ultrasound imaging of the testes via an US Doppler can be useful to confirm the diagnosis
Epididymitis mx
- appropriate abx therapy
- sufficient analgesia
- abstain from sexual activity, barrier contraception counselling
Epididymitis complications
- reactive hydrocele formation
- abscess formation
- testicular infarction
Diaphragmatic hernias
left-sided herniation of abdominal contents through the posterolateral foramen of the diaphragm
Diaphragmatic hernias clinical features
- apex beat & heart sounds will then be displaced to the right side of the chest
- poor air entry in the left chest
- pneumothorax due to vigorous resuscitation
Diaphragmatic hernias ix & mx
- diagnosis confirmed via x-ray of chest and abdomen
- NGT is passed and suction is applied to prevent distension of the intrathoracic bowel
- after stable → surgical repair
- most infants have pulmonary hypoplasia → compression by the herniated viscera throughout pregnancy has prevented development of lung → mortality is high
Inguinal hernias
Protrusion of viscus through a defect of the walls of its containing cavity
Inguinal hernias pathophysiology
- indirect inguinal hernias (most common in children)
- abdominal contents protrude through the deep inguinal ring into the inguinal canal & through the superficial inguinal ring into the groin
- due to incomplete closure of the processus vaginalis after the descent of testes in utero
Inguinal hernias RFs
- prematurity
- male sex
- family history
Inguinal hernias clinical features
- groin swelling
- N&V, constipation, abdominal pain/discomfort = obstruction or strangulation
- on examination
- inguinal mass that you cannot ‘get above’, reducible when lying flat, does not transilluminate & positive cough reflex
Inguinal hernias ix
- clinical diagnosis, only if uncertain/more information is required
- USS
- CT scan
- MRI scan - rarely used
Inguinal hernias mx
- definitive management is achieved through surgical repair of the hernia (herniotomy)
- emergency surgery may be required in the case of an irreducible to prevent bowel and testicular ischaemia