Topic 3 - GI Disorders Flashcards
What are the roles of saliva?
- Cleanse mouth (antibacterial properties)
- Moistens and compacts food
- Enzymes that begin digestion of starches (amylase and lipase)
What are the three salivary glands?
Parotid, submandibular, subglossal
What kinds of things trigger salivation?
PSNS –> food, irritations in lower GI tract
What kinds of things inhibit salivation?
SNS, dehydration, antihistamines, antidepressants, radiation
What is the medical term for dry mouth?
Xerostomia
What is the name for inflammation of the oral mucosa?
Stomatitis
What can cause stomatitis?
–> Microorganisms
–> Trauma
–> Chemotherapy
–> Nutritional deficiencies
–> AIDS
–> HSV (Cold sores)
What is the name for erosive inflammation with cracking or ulceration of the corners of the mouth?
Angular stomatitis / Angulae cheilitis
What might cause angular stomatitis/cheilitis?
B12 deficiency, IDA - might be accompanied by opportunistic fungal or bacterial infection.
Mask wearing exacerbates problem.
What might cause strawberry tongue?
Scarlet Fever (Group A strep)
What is Candida albicans?
Oral thrush, an oral fungal infection.
How is a salivary gland infection treated?
Antibiotics
How is a salivary gland stone treated?
Removed of stone (with needle or surgically)
How are salivary gland tumors treated?
By removing the affected gland
How does myxovirus affect the body?
Mumps causes inflammation of the parotid glands and has a 25% risk of affecting the testes in adult males.
How does mumps cause sterility in males?
Mumps has a 25% chance of spreading to the tested. The increased temperature due to the infection can harm the germ stem cells and cause fertility issues or sterility.
What is the name for the disorder characterized by decreased peristalsis of the esophagus, loss of tone of the GE sphincter between meals, and decreased relaxation of the GE sphincter in response to swallowing
Achalasia
What causes achalasia?
Degeneration of esophageal ganglion cells and atrophy of smooth muscle
What of the symptoms of achalasia?
Dysphagia (increased by stress), vomiting, nausea, weight loss.
Risk of pneumonia due to aspiration.
How is achalasia diagnosed?
With a barium swallow
How is achalasia treated?
Treatment targets the GE sphincter. Issues with lack of relaxation can be managed by eating small meals with lots of fluids or sleeping with the head elevated.
More invasive treatment options include pneumatic dilation of the GE sphincter, myotomy, or botox.
Side effect of these treatments include GERD
What is GERD?
Gastroesophageal Reflux
What can frequent or long term reflux cause?
Esophagitis
What are the symptoms of GERD?
Substernal pain that is exacerbated by supine position, pulmonary aspiration is a risk. Over time, damage to the muscularis is possible.
How is GERD diagnosed?
Endoscopy + biopsy, pH measurements, barium swallow to reveal associated conditions - such as a hiatal hernia, pr a shortened or ulcerated esophagus.
How can GERD be treated?
–> Antacids
–> Elevation of head
–> Weight reduction
–> H2-blockers
–> PPIs
What do H2-blockers do?
Make histamine unable to exert its normal effect on acid production in stomach
Which three hormones are responsible for causing acid production in the stomach?
Gastrin, Ach, and histamine
What is a PPI
A proton pump inhibitor inhibits the mechanism that produces acid in the stomach.
Why are PPIs not recommended for long-term use?
Because their use over an extended period might lead to malabsorption of vitamin B12, Iron, magnesium, and calcium
What is Barrett’s esophagus?
When epithelial cells in the esophagus change from stratified squamous cells to simple columnar cells due to repeated exposure to stomach acid - this has a high probability of leading to cancer.
What are the phases of long term complications due to GERD?
- Inflammation
- Erosive esophagitis
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Adenocarcinoma
Why are esophageal cancers so serious?
They are hard to treat due to their location and because they spread very easily.
They are usually asymptomatic until unresectable, and 16% of cases survive five years past diagnosis.
What is a sliding hiatal hernia?
When the stomach slides through the esophageal hiatus when supine or when intra-abdominal pressure increases. It slides back when standing.
Which kind of hiatal hernia presents the risk of developing GERD?
A sliding hernia
What are some potential causes of a sliding hiatal hernia?
Defect in diaphragm or weakening of the diaphragm muscles (might be caused by progesterone during pregnancy)
What percentage of hiatal hernias are sliding, as compared to rolling?
Sliding - 90%
Rolling - 10%
What is a rolling (paraoesophageal) hiatal hernia?
When part of the greater curvature of the stomach protrudes through a 2nd or enlarges opening in the diaphragm.
If GERD common in someone with a rolling hiatal hernia?
Not usually, because the GE sphincter remains the the same place.
Gastritis and ulcers in herniated area are common.
How is a paraoesophageal hernia treated?
A rolling hernia is treated promptly by surgery to avoid necrosis of herniated tissue.
What is an esophageal varices?
A varicose veins within the esophagus
What causes esophageal varices?
Portal hypertension - common in someone with advanced cirrhosis
What are the dangers or esophageal varices?
Thin walled veins in the area are subject to rupture. This leads to a tremendous amount of bleeding into the GI system, even first time bleeds have a 40% mortality rate.
Why should lipid soluble drugs like alcohol and NSAIDS (and bile salts) not be taken in large quantities?
These substances easily cross the mucosa into the bloodstream and can create pathways as they do this - this leads to gastric bleeding
how do caffeine and nicotine affect gastric secretions?
They increase the amount and the acidity of gastric secretions.
Which drug decreases output of mucous by gastric secretions?
Aspirin
How does prolonged stress or corticosteroids affect the lining of the stomach?
Increase acid and pepsinogen secretion and decreases blood flow to stomach wall
How does insulin affect gastric secretion?
It increases them.
What are the motor responses to the emetic centre?
- Skeletal muscle of abdominal wall + diaphragm
- GE sphincter relaxes
- Soft palate rises to close off nasal passages
What are the concerns of prolonged vomiting?
–> Dehydration
–> Acid-base balance issues