Surgery conditions and presentations Flashcards
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Define Volvulus
Volvulus refers to the abnormal twisting or rotation of a portion of the intestine, leading to obstruction and potential vascular compromise.
what are the three types of volvulus?
- Sigmoid volvulus
- Cecal volvulus
- Gastric volvulus
What are the typical symptoms of volvulus?
Abdominal pain, distention, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes visible abdominal mass.
How is volvulus diagnosed?
Diagnosis is usually made through clinical assessment, imaging studies such as abdominal X-ray (showing the “coffee bean” or “omega” sign), CT scan, or sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy.
sigmoid volvulus: large bowel obstruction (large, dilated loop of colon, often with air-fluid levels) + coffee bean sign
caecal volvulus: small bowel obstruction may be seen
What is the management approach for volvulus?
- fluid resuscitation
- decompression (via nasogastric tube or rectal tube)
- surgical consultation for definitive treatment
- in some cases, endoscopic detorsion for sigmoid volvulus.
What are the potential complications of untreated volvulus?
Ischemia, necrosis, perforation, peritonitis, sepsis, and death if not promptly treated.
What are the risk factors for volvulus?
Risk factors include
* age (older adults)
* prior abdominal surgery
* history of volvulus
* chronic constipation
* Hirschsprung’s disease.
What conditions should be considered in the differential diagnosis of volvulus?
Intestinal obstruction (e.g., adhesions, hernias), appendicitis, diverticulitis, colitis, and mesenteric ischemia.
What is the epidemiology of volvulus?
Volvulus is more common in older adults and is more frequently seen in regions where there is a low-fiber diet and a higher prevalence of chronic constipation.
How can volvulus be prevented?
Prevention strategies include maintaining a high-fiber diet, staying hydrated, avoiding constipation, and seeking prompt medical attention for symptoms suggestive of bowel obstruction.
Sigmoid volvulus associations
-older patients
-chronic constipation
-Chagas disease
-neurological conditions e.g. -
Parkinson’s disease,
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
-psychiatric conditions e.g. schizophrenia
Caecal volvulus associations
-all ages
-adhesions
-pregnancy
specific volvulus managment
sigmoid volvulus: rigid sigmoidoscopy with rectal tube insertion
caecal volvulus: management is usually operative. Right hemicolectomy is often needed
varicose veins
Varicose veins are dilated, tortuous, superficial veins that occur secondary to incompetent venous valves, allowing blood to flow back, away from the heart
commonly occur in the legs due to reflux in the great saphenous vein and small saphenous vein. Whilst extremely common, the vast majority of patients do not require any intervention.
what are the symptoms of varicose veins?
aching, throbbing
itching
cosmetic concerns
what are risk factors for varicose veins?
increasing age
female gender
pregnancy
the uterus causes compression of the pelvic veins
obesity
what are the complications of varicose veins?
a variety of skin changes may be seen:
varicose eczema (also known as venous stasis)
haemosiderin deposition → hyperpigmentation
lipodermatosclerosis → hard/tight skin
atrophie blanche → hypopigmentation
bleeding
superficial thrombophlebitis
venous ulceration
-deep vein
-thrombosis
what are the investigations for varicose veins
venous duplex ultrasound: this will demonstrate retrograde venous flow
conservative treatment for varicose veins
Conservative treatments include:
leg elevation
weight loss
regular exercise
graduated compression stockings
what reasons to refer patients to secondary care with varicose veins
significant/troublesome lower limb symptoms e.g. pain, discomfort or swelling
previous bleeding from varicose veins
skin changes secondary to chronic venous insufficiency (e.g. pigmentation and eczema)
superficial thrombophlebitis
an active or healed venous leg ulcer
secondary care treatments for varicose veins
endothermal ablation: using either radiofrequency ablation or endovenous laser treatment
foam sclerotherapy: irritant foam → inflammatory response → closure of the vein
surgery: either ligation or stripping
What is acute urinary retention
Acute urinary retention is when a person suddenly (over a period of hours or less) becomes unable to voluntarily pass urine
UROLOGY EMERGENCY
Epidemiology of urinary retention
-Whilst acute urinary retention is common in men, it rarely occurs in women (incidence ratio of 13:1). It occurs most frequently in men over 60 years of age and incidence increases with age.
-It has been estimated that around a third of men in their 80s will develop acute urinary retention over a five year period.
Causes of acute urinary retention
- benign prostatic hyperplasia
- urethral obstructions; including urethral strictures, calculi, cystocele, constipation or masses.
- anticholinergics, tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, opioids and benzodiazepines.
- UTI
typical presentation of urinary retention
Inability to pass urine
Lower abdominal discomfort
Considerable pain or distress
an acute confusional state may also be present in elderly patients
Signs of Urinary retention (3)
-Palpable distended urinary bladder either on an abdominal or rectal exam
-Lower abdominal tenderness
-All men and women should have a rectal and neurological examination to assess for the likely causes above. Women should also have a pelvic examination.
Investigations of acute urinary retention
-Patients should all be investigated with a urine sample which should be sent for urinalysis and culture. This might only be possible after urinary catheterisation.
-Serum U&Es and creatinine should also be checked to assess for any kidney injury.
-A FBC and CRP should also be performed to look for infection
-PSA is not appropriate in acute urinary retention as it is typically elevated
what confirms diagnosis of acute urinary retention
A volume of >300 cc confirms the diagnosis
history or signs of the condition
managment of urinary retention
-Acute urinary retention is managed by decompressing the bladder via catheterisation
-Urinary catheterisation can be performed in patients with suspected acute urinary retention, and the volume of urine drained in 15 minutes measured.
-A volume of <200 confirms that a patient does not have acute urinary retention, and a volume over 400 cc means the catheter should be left in place. In between these volumes, it depends on the case.
-Further investigation should be targeted by the likely cause. In reversible causes such as UTI, resolution with treatment is sufficient and further investigation is not necessary.
-Men not diagnosed by BPH should be further evaluated by a urologist, Patients with neurological symptoms should be evaluated by a neurologist and women with gynaecological symptoms by a gynaecologist.
-Where no likely cause is identified, patients should be evaluated by a urologist for anatomical and urodynamic causes.
Peptic ulcer disease
Duodenal ulcers: more common than gastric ulcers, epigastric pain relieved by eating
Gastric ulcers: epigastric pain worsened by eating
Features of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage may be seen (haematemesis, melena etc)
Appendicitis
Pain initial in the central abdomen before localising to the right iliac fossa
Anorexia is common
Tachycardia, low-grade pyrexia, tenderness in RIF
Rovsing’s sign: more pain in RIF than LIF when palpating LIF
Acute pancreatitis
Usually due to alcohol or gallstones
Severe epigastric pain
Vomiting is common
Examination may reveal tenderness, ileus and low-grade fever
Periumbilical discolouration (Cullen’s sign) and flank discolouration (Grey-Turner’s sign) is described but rare
Biliary colic
Pain in the RUQ radiating to the back and interscapular region, may be following a fatty meal. Slight misnomer as the pain may persist for hours
Obstructive jaundice may cause pale stools and dark urine
It is sometimes taught that patients are female, forties, fat and fair although this is obviously a generalisation
Acute cholecystitis
History of gallstones symptoms (see above)
Continuous RUQ pain
Fever, raised inflammatory markers and white cells
Murphy’s sign positive (arrest of inspiration on palpation of the RUQ)
Diverticulitis
Colicky pain typically in the LLQ
Fever, raised inflammatory markers and white cells
AAA
Severe central abdominal pain radiating to the back
Presentation may be catastrophic (e.g. Sudden collapse) or sub-acute (persistent severe central abdominal pain with developing shock)
Patients may have a history of cardiovascular disease
Intestinal obstruction
History of malignancy/previous operations
Vomiting
Not opened bowels recently
‘Tinkling’ bowel sounds
definition of constipation
efecation that is unsatisfactory because of infrequent stools (< 3 times weekly), difficult stool passage (with straining or discomfort), or seemingly incomplete defecation.
features of constipation
the passage of infrequent hard stools
Laxatives and constipation
- first-line laxative: bulk-forming laxative first-line, such as ispaghula
- second-line: osmotic laxative, such as a macrogol
Initial managment of constipation
investigate and exclude any secondary causes, consider red flag symptoms
exclude any faecal impaction
advice on lifestyle measures
complications of constipation
- overflow diarrhoea
- acute urinary retention
- haemorrhoids
Femoral hernia
section of the bowel or any other part of the abdominal viscera pass into the femoral canal. Via the **femoral ring **
Features of femoral hernia
- mildly painful lump in groin
- femoral hernias are inferolateral to the pubic tubercle,
- Typically non-reducible, although can be reducible in a minority of cases;
- Cough impulse is often absent.
Epidemiology of femoral hernia
- less common than inguinal hernias
- more common in women
- more common in multiparous women
Important differentials for femoral hernia
- Lymphadenopathy
- Abscess
- Femoral artery aneurysm
- Hydrocoele or varicocele in males
- Lipoma
- Inguinal hernia
Complications of femoral hernia
- strangulation
- incarcertation
- Bowel obstruction, again a surgical emergency
- Bowel ischaemia
Managment of femoral hernia
- Surgical repair is a necessity-risk of strangulation, and can be carried out either laparoscopically or via a laparotomy
- Hernia support belts/trusses should not be used for femoral hernias, again due to the risk of strangulation
- In an emergency situation, a laparotomy may be the only option
Intussusception
one portion of the bowel into the lumen of the adjacent bowel, most commonly around the ileo-caecal region.
- Affects infants between** 6-18** months old.
- Boys are affected twice as often as girls
Features of intussuception
- intermittent, severe, crampy, progressive abdominal pain
- inconsolable crying
- during paroxysm the infant will characteristically draw their knees up and turn pale
- vomiting
- bloodstained stool - ‘red-currant jelly’ - is a late sign
- sausage-shaped mass in the right upper quadrant
Investigation of insusseption
- Ultrasound
- target like mass may be seen
Managment of intussusception
- the majority of children can be treated with reduction by air insufflation under radiological control, which is now widely used first-line compared to the traditional barium enema
- if this fails, or the child has signs of peritonitis, surgery is performed
Assocaitions with pancreatic cancer
- increasing age
- smoking
- diabetes
- chronic pancreatitis (alcohol does not appear an independent risk factor though)
- hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma
- multiple endocrine neoplasia
- BRCA2 gene
- KRAS gene mutation
What conditions are associated with BRCA2 gene?
- Pancreatic cancer
- Melanoma
- Male breast cancer
- Fallopian tube cancer
- Peritoneal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
Features of pancreatic cancer
- classically painless jaundice
- non-specific anoreixa
- loss of exocrine function (e.g. steatorrhoea)
- loss of endocrine function (e.g. diabetes mellitus)
- atypical back pain is often seen
- migratory thrombophlebitis (Trousseau sign) is more common than with other cancers
Investigations for pancreatic cancer
- ultrasound
- High resolution CT scan
- “double-duct” sign may be seen
Managment of pancreatic cancer
- 80% pallative care
- Whipple’s resection (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is performed for resectable lesions in the head of pancreas. Side-effects of a Whipple’s include dumping syndrome and peptic ulcer disease
- adjuvant chemotherapy is usually given following surgery
- ERCP with stenting is often used for palliation
Features of ruptured AAA
- severe, central abdominal pain radiating to the back
- pulsatile, expansile mass in the abdomen
- patients may be shocked (hypotension, tachycardic) or may have collapsed
Managment of AAA
- immediate vascular review with a view to emergency surgical repair.
- Fraile patients- pallative care
- haemodynamically stable CT angiogram where the diagnosis is in doubt - this may also assess the suitability of endovascular repair.
inital
Intestinal obstruction- findings
History of malignancy/previous operations
Vomiting
Not opened bowels recently
‘Tinkling’ bowel sounds
inital
Ascities findings
History of alcohol excess, cardiac failure
initial
Urinary retention- findings
History of prostate problems
Dullness to percussion around suprapubic area
initial
Ovarian cancer- presentation and findings
Older female
Pelvic pain
Urinary symptoms e.g. urgency
Raised CA125
Early satiety, bloating
SAAG >11g/L
cirrhosis/alcoholic liver disease
* acute liver failure
* liver metastases
Cardiac
* right heart failure
* constrictive pericarditis
Other causes
* Budd-Chiari syndrome
* portal vein thrombosis
* veno-occlusive disease
* myxoedema
hypertension) SAAG <11g/L
Hypoalbuminaemia
* nephrotic syndrome
* severe malnutrition (e.g. Kwashiorkor)
Malignancy
* peritoneal carcinomatosis
Infections
* tuberculous peritonitis
Other causes
* pancreatitis
* bowel obstruction
* biliary ascites
* postoperative lymphatic leak
* serositis in connective tissue diseases
Managment of ascities
- reducing dietary sodium
- fluid restriction is sometimes recommended if the sodium is < 125 mmol/L
- aldosterone
- fluid draining
- Prophylactic antibiotics prophylactic oral ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin
- **TIPS procedure **
Features of breast cancer
breast lump: typically painless. Classically described as fixed, hard
breast skin changes
bloody nipple discharge
inverted nipple
axillary mass
Fibroadenoma findings
- Develop from a whole lobule
- Mobile, firm, smooth breast lump - a ‘breast mouse’
- 12% of all breast masses
- Over a 2 year period up to 30% will get smaller
- No increase in risk of malignancy
- If >3cm surgical excision is usual
Mastitis
- affects 1 in 10 women
- flucloxacillin for 10-14 days
- continue breastfeeding
- if systemically unwell, if nipple fissure present, if symptoms do not improve after 12-24 hours of effective milk removal of if culture indicates infection
*
Managment of breast engorgments
- Normal after first few days baby is born
- hand expression can help
Raynaud’s disease of the nipple
- nipple, pain is often intermittent and present during and immediately after feeding.
- Blanching of the nipple may be followed by cyanosis and/or erythema.
- Nipple pain resolves when nipples return to normal colour.
Managent of Raynaud’s disease of the nipple
- minimising exposure to cold
- Heat packs following a breastfeed
- avoiding caffeine
- stopping smoking.
If symptoms persist consider specialist referral for a trial of oral nifedipine (off-license).
Managment of cyclical mastalgia
- Conservative treatments include standard oral and topical analgesia
- flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil
- referral after 3 months if no change
- Hormonal agents such as bromocriptine and danazol may be more effective. However, many women discontinue these therapies due to adverse effects.
Conservative managment of splenic trauma
Small subcapsular haematoma
Minimal intra abdominal blood
No hilar disruption
Laparotomy with conservation
Increased amounts of intraabdominal blood
Moderate haemodynamic compromise
Tears or lacerations affecting <50%
Splenic trauma ressection
Hilar injuries
Major haemorrhage
Major associated injuries
Thorcaic trauma- tension pnuemothorax
Often laceration to lung parenchyma with flap
Pressure develops in thorax
Most common cause is mechanical ventilation in patient with pleural injury
Symptoms overlap with cardiac tamponade, hyper-resonant percussion note is more likely in tension pnemothorax
Flail chest
Chest wall disconnects from thoracic cage
Multiple rib fractures (at least two fractures per rib in at least two ribs)
Associated with pulmonary contusion
Abnormal chest motion
Avoid over hydration and fluid overload
Pneumothorax
Most common cause is lung laceration with air leakage
Most traumatic pneumothoraces should have a chest drain
Patients with traumatic pneumothorax should never be mechanically ventilated until a chest drain is inserted
Hameothorax
Most commonly due to laceration of lung, intercostal vessel or internal mammary artery
Haemothoraces large enough to appear on CXR are treated with large bore chest drain
Surgical exploration is warranted if >1500ml blood drained immediately
cardiac tamponade
Beck’s triad: elevated venous pressure, reduced arterial pressure, reduced heart sounds.
Pulsus paradoxus
May occur with as little as 100ml blood
Pulmonary contusion
Most common potentially lethal chest injury
Arterial blood gases and pulse oximetry important
Early intubation within an hour if significant hypoxia
Blunt cardiac injury
Usually occurs secondary to chest wall injury
ECG may show features of myocardial infarction
Sequelae: hypotension, arrhythmias, cardiac wall motion abnormalities
Aortic disruption
Deceleration injuries
Contained haematoma
Widened mediastinum
Diaphragmic disruption
Most due to motor vehicle accidents and blunt trauma causing large radial tears (laceration injuries result in small tears)
More common on left side
Insert gastric tube, which will pass into the thoracic cavity
Mediastinal transversing wounds
- Entrance wound in one hemithorax and exit wound/foreign body in opposite hemithorax
- Mediastinal haematoma or pleural cap suggests great vessel injury
- Mortality is 20%
Femoral hernia
type of hernia that protrudes through the femoral canal, below the inguinal ligament and lateral to the pubic tubercle.
Femoral hernia contents
Typically contains a part of the intestine
Risk factors for Femoral hernia
- More common in females
- increased intra-abdominal pressure (e.g., pregnancy, obesity)
- chronic coughing
- constipation
- lifting heavy objects.
presentation of Femoral hernia
Painful groin lump that may be reducible or irreducible, may cause bowel obstruction or strangulation.
Managment of Femoral hernia
open or laparoscopic surgery
Inguinal hernia
A hernia that protrudes through the inguinal canal, typically located in the groin region
Types of inguinal hernias
- **Direct inguinal hernia **(bulges through the posterior wall of the inguinal canal)
- Indirect inguinal hernia (passes through the deep inguinal ring, lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels)
Features of inguinal hernias
- groin lump
- superior and medial to the pubic tubercle
- disappears on pressure or when the patient lies down
- discomfort and ache: often worse with activity, severe pain is uncommon
- strangulation is rare