Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders Flashcards

1
Q

What is indigestion also known as?

A

Dyspepsia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is indigestion?

A

Discomfort arising from the upper gastro-intestinal tract

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is indigestion caused by?

A
Overeating
Caffeine
Alcohol
Fatty, spicy and greasy foods
Chocolate
Carbonated beverages
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the symptoms of indigestion?

A
Heartburn
Bloating
Anorexia
Fullness 
Feeling sick (nausea)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Gastrointestinal disorders associated with dyspepsia

A

Non-ulcer dyspepsia or functional
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
Peptic ulcer dyspepsia (PUD)
Cancer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is un-investigated dyspepsia?

A

No further investigation by endoscopy for patients presenting with dyspepsia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is investigated dyspepsia?

A

Further investigation needed for patients presenting with dyspepsia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is non-ulcer dyspepsia (functional dyspepsia)?

A

A common problem wherein patients suffer from indigestion and other symptoms suggestive of an ulcer, but no abnormality is found on investigation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)?

A

A common condition in primary care. The abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the oesophagus causing irritation and severe oesophagus damage.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is peptic ulcer dyspepsia (PUD)?

A

A sore in the lining of the stomach or first part of the small intestine called the duodenum.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Referral criteria for dyspepsia

A
  1. Immediate referral (same day) – patients with dyspepsia and acute significant gastrointestinal bleeding regardless of age
  2. Urgent referral (within two weeks) – patients with dyspepsia plus ‘ALARM’ symptoms & 55+ year old with unexplained and persistent recent-onset of dyspepsia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does ‘ALARM’ mean?

A
A= Anaemia
L= Loss of weight (unintentional)
A= Anorexia 
R= Recent onset of progressive symptoms
M= Melaena (blood in stool) or upper GI bleeding 

Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing
Persistent vomiting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What age group does GORD affect?

A

Can affect all ages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How common is GORD?

A

Most common disorder of oesophagus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What gender does GORD affect?

A

Men and women equally affected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Is GORD chronic or acute?

A

Chronic. (persisting for a long time or constantly recurring) & relapsing (returning)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

3 types of GORD?

A
  1. Erosive oesophagitis
  2. Non-erosive oesophagitis (ENRD)
  3. Barrett’s oesophagus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is erosive oesophagitis?

A

Evidence of mucosal damage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is non-erosive oesophagitis (ENRD)?

A

No evidence of damage / present in more than 50% of patients / symptoms are very difficult to treat

20
Q

What is barrett’s oesophagus?

A

Complication of GORD. Some of the cells in the oesophagus grow abnormally.

21
Q

Causes of GORD

A

Lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) – LOS relaxation and reduce sphincter pressure

Failure of the diaphragm pinching effect

Impaired oesophageal clearance

Impaired oesophageal mucosal resistance

Delayed gastric emptying

Hiatus hernia

22
Q

2 Types of risk factors of GORD:

A
  1. Dietary factors

2. Drug factors

23
Q

Dietary risk factors of GORD

A
  1. Fatty foods, chocolate, nuts, onions, spices, caffeine, citrus fruit, and tomato products
  2. Eating within 2 hours of bedtime
  3. Overeating
  4. Obesity BMI >30kg/m2
  5. Poor posture
  6. Advancing age
  7. Smoking
  8. NSAIDS – ibuprofen
  9. Bending forward
  10. Wearing tight clothes
  11. Pregnancy
24
Q

Drug risk factors of GORD

A
  • Anti-cholinergic drugs
  • Nitrates
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Alcohol
  • Theophylline
  • Progesterone
  • Bisphosphonates
25
Q

Mode of action of anti-cholinergic drugs

A

Block the action of acetylcholine by inhibiting the parasympathetic nervous system so that it cannot bind to receptors that initiate the parasympathetic response (type of neurotransmitter).

26
Q

Mode of action of nitrates

A

Relaxing and dilate your arteries and veins so blood can flow more easier to your heart and elsewhere in the body.

27
Q

Mode of action of calcium channel blockers

A

Lowering blood pressure. Preventing calcium from entering the cells of the heart and arteries, by blocking the calcium channel blockers this allows blood vessels to relax and open. Calcium causes the heart and arteries to contract more strongly.

28
Q

Mode of action of theophylline

A

Xanthine Bronchodilator: helps to open your airways in your lungs so that air can flow into your lungs more feeling. Relieving symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

29
Q

Mode of action of progesterone

A

Works by adjusting the balance of your body’s own hormone.

30
Q

Mode of action of bisphosphonates

A

Works by slowing down the cells which break down bone (osteoclasts). Therefore, they slow down bone loss, allowing the bone building cells (osteoblasts) to work more effectively. Helping to strengthen bone and help prevent it getting any weaker.

31
Q

Typical symptoms of GORD

A

Heart burn and acid regurgitation

32
Q

Atypical symptoms of GORD

A
  1. Angina like chest pain, non-specific dyspepsia, belching, bloating, laryngitis, broncho-constriction, or worsening asthma
  2. Refluxed acid cause erosion of dental enamel, burning tongue & sore throat
33
Q

Complicated symptoms of GORD

A

Dysphagia, odynophagia, bleeding, unexplained weight loss

34
Q

Complications of GORD

A

Barrett’s oesophagus = more common in men, small but increased risk of oesophageal cancer, oesophageal lining changes (squamous to columnar), treatment with proton pump inhibitors.

35
Q

Goals of treatment of GORD

A

Relieve symptoms and improve quality of life

Reduce frequency of reflux

Reduce duration of reflux

Heal oesophagitis

Avoid recurrence of symptoms

Reduce risk of Barrett’s oesophagus

36
Q

3 treatment modalities of GORD

A
  1. Lifestyle modification – remove factors that can aggravate or provoke GORD, decrease amount of reflux which prevents reflux or improve clearance.
  2. Drug treatment – aim to decrease gastric acid secretion; neutralise stomach acid; prevent reflux or improve clearance; protect GI mucosa.
    Drug classes to use for treatment: Antacids, H2 histamine receptor antagonists, Proton pump inhibitors
  3. Surgical treatment – fundoplication= surgical procedure of the fundus (top of the stomach) due to fundus wrapped around the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) to strengthen it
37
Q

How to identify peptic ulcer disease (PUD)

A
  • Localised lesion in GI mucosa
  • Ulceration anywhere in GI tract
  • Gastric and duodenal ulcers - most common types
  • Recurrent episodes of dyspepsia
  • About 10% incidence
38
Q

How to identify gastric ulcers

A
  • Peaks at 50 - 60 years
  • Men and women equally affected
  • Often found between antrum and body
  • Malignancy more common with gastric ulcers
39
Q

How to identify duodenal ulcers

A
  • Peaks at 45 - 64 years
  • Twice as common in males than females
  • Commonly found first part of the duodenum
40
Q

Two factors of gastric mucosa

A
  1. Aggressive factors

2. Protective factors

41
Q

Aggressive factors of gastric mucosa

A
  • Gastric acid

- Pepsin

42
Q

Protective factors of gastric mucosa

A

Prostaglandins regulated:

  • Mucus and bicarbonate secretion
  • Gastric mucosal blood flow
  • Gastric emptying
43
Q

Pathogenesis of PUD

A

Breakdown of the gastric mucosa’s protective mechanism:

  1. Defects in the mucosal barrier
  2. Abnormal rate of acid/pepsin secretion
  3. Inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori
  4. Ulcerogenic drugs - NSAIDs, aspirin, corticosteroids
  5. SSRIs e.g., fluoxetine - block re-uptake of serotonin in platelets resulting in impairment of haemostatic function
  6. Smoking - postulated mechanisms
    a. pepsin secretion, ↑acid production and ↓mucus production
    b. duodenogastric reflux of bile acids
    c. ↓bicarbonate & prostaglandin production
  7. Alcohol - can cause gastritis
  8. Stress - can influence PUD but clear causal relationship has not been established
  9. Dietary factors e.g. coffee, tea, cola, beer, highly spiced foods
    - may cause dyspepsia but independently do not ↑PUD
    - caffeine ↑ acid secretion
  10. Genetic predilection
44
Q

Causes of PUD

A
  1. Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori)
  2. NSAIDs
  3. Stress related mucosal damage (stress ulcers)
45
Q

How to identify helicobacter pylori (H.pylori)

A
  • Gram -ve motile rod-shaped bacillus
  • Major cause of PUD
  • Transmitted via faecal oral route
  • Increased prevalence with advancing age
  • 10-20% children
46
Q

Pathogenesis of H.pylori induced PUD

A
  1. Direct mucosal damage
  2. Alteration of host inflammatory responses
  3. May increase gastrin levels ↑acid secretion