Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Yr 3 - RRAPID > Upper GI Bleed > Flashcards

Upper GI Bleed Flashcards

1
Q

What symptoms may a patient with an UGIB present with?

A
  • Haematemesis
  • Melaena
  • Altered bowel habit
  • Abdominal pain
  • Syncope/pre-syncope
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the appearance of the vomit typically seen in UGIB?

A

Coffee-ground texture

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

What causes vomit to have a coffee ground texture?

A

Due to presence of partially digested blood

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

What type of altered bowel habits may patients with an UGIB describe?

A
  • Dark, tarry stools
  • Fresh rectal bleeding
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Typical location of abdominal pain in an UGIB?

A

Epigastric (but can be diffuse)

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

What can cause syncope in UGIB?

A

Hypovolaemia and 2ary cerebral hypoperfusion

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

What signs can be found on examination in UGIB?

A
  • Tachycardia
  • Abdominal tenderness
  • Hypotension
  • Melaena
  • Haematochezia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is haematochezia?

A

The passage of fresh blood per rectum (this can occur in the context of profuse upper GI haemorrhage due to the rapid transit of blood through the GI tract)

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

You may be asked to review a patient with UGIB due to:

A

a) tachycardia, b) hypotension, c) melaena and/or haematemesis.

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

Describe the introductory steps during a handover

A
  • 1) Introduction
    • Introduce self to whoever has requested review of patient and listen carefully to handover
  • 2) Interaction
    • Introduce self to patient: name & role
    • Ask how patient is feeling (may provide information about current symptoms)
  • 3) Preparation
    • Make sure patient notes, observation chart and prescription chart are easily available
    • Ask for another clinical staff member to assist you if possible
    • If patient s unconscious or unresponsive  start BLS
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How can you assess the patient’s airway?

A

Is the patient talking? (if yes - patent airway)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

If the patient is unable to talk (or unable to talk in full sentences), what should you inspect for?

A
  • Signs of airway compromise
  • Inspection for obstruction of airway (secretions, foreign body)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are some signs of airway compromise?

A
  • Use of accessory muscles
  • Cyanosis
  • See-saw breathing
  • Diminished breath sounds & added sounds
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Regardless of the underlying cause of airway obstruction, what should be done if you find one?

A

Seek immediate expert support from an anaesthetist and crash team. Perform a basic airway manoeuvre for the meantime.

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

Which basic airway manoeuvre should be used if the patient is not suspected to have suffered significant trauma with potential spinal involvement?

A

Head tilt chin lift

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

Which basic airway manoeuvre should be used if the patient is suspected to have suffered significant trauma with potential spinal involvement?

A

Jaw thrust

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

Describe the steps of the head tilt chin lift manoeuvre

A
  1. Place one hand on patient’s forehead and other under the chin
  2. With your index finger and other fingers placed behind the angle of the mandible, apply steady upwards and forward pressure to lift the mandible
  3. Inspect airway for obvious obstruction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe the steps of the head tilt chin lift manoeuvre

A
  1. Place one hand on patient’s forehead and other under the chin
  2. With your index finger and other fingers placed behind the angle of the mandible, apply steady upwards and forward pressure to lift the mandible
  3. Inspect airway for obvious obstruction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

If an obvious obstruction of the airway is identified, how should it be removed?

A

Finger sweep or suction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe the steps of the jaw thrust

A
  • 1) Identify angle of mandible
  • 2) With your index and other fingers placed behind the angle of the mandible, apply steady upwards and forward pressure to lift the mandible
  • 3) Using your thumbs, slightly open the mouth by downward displacement of the chin
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Which airway adjunct should be used in a fully unconscious patient?

A

Oropharyngeal airway (otherwise may induce gagging and/or aspiration)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How should the oropharyngeal airway be inserted?

A

Insert oropharyngeal airway in the upside-down position until you reach the junction of the hard and soft palate, at which point rotate it 180 degrees.

Advance airway until it lies within the pharynx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What should you do after inserting the oropharyngeal airway?

A

Maintain head-tilt chin-lift or jaw thrust and assess patency of patient’s airway (look, listen, feel)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Which airway adjunct should be used in patients who are partly or fully conscious?

A

Nasopharyngeal airway

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Which patients should the nasopharyngeal airway not be used in?

A

patients who may have sustained a skull base fracture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

When should the patient be reassessed?

A

After every intervention

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Which observations should be taking when assessing the patient’s breathing?

A
  • Respiratory rate
  • O2 saturation
  • Auscultation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What may tachypnoea indicate in the context of an UGIB?

A
  • Significant blood loss (>1500ml)
  • Aspiration pneumonia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What is defined as tachypnoea?

A

>20 breaths per minute

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is the normal SpO2 range in COPD patients who are at high-risk of CO2 retention?

A

99-92%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Normal SpO2 range for healthy adults?

A

94-98%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What can cause hypoxaemia in the context of UGIB?

A

Aspiration pneumonia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What may a finding of coarse crackles on auscultation indicate in the context of UGIB?

A

Excess fluid on the lungs due to;

a) aspiration pneumonia
b) pulmonary oedema 2ary to fluid resuscitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What can cause pulmonary oedema in the context of UGIB?

A

Fluid reuscitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What 2 investigations should be done (if indicated) during the ‘breathing’ part of ABCDE?

A
  1. ABG
  2. CXR
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What observation would indicate the need for an ABG? Why?

A

Low SpO2 → to qualify the degree of hypoxia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What observation would indicate the need for a CXR? Why?

A

May be indicated if abnormalities are noted on auscultation (e.g. reduced air entry, coarse crackles) to screen for evidence of aspiration pneumonia.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What intervention should be done if the patient has low SpO2?

A

Oxygen

39
Q

What rate of O2 should be given (typically) to a patient with low SpO2?

A

15L non-rebreathe mask

40
Q

What should you be careful of with a patient on an O2 mask?

A

BEWARE of risks of aspiration if patient vomits while wearing oxygen mask

41
Q

What intervention should be performed if the patient loses consciousness and there are no signs of life?

A

CPR

42
Q

What are 6 steps of clinical assessment of circulation in the context of UGIB?

A
  1. Inspection
  2. Pulse
  3. Blood pressure
  4. CRT
  5. Abdominal exam
  6. Fluid balance assessment
43
Q

What is tachycardia an early sign of in UGIB?

A

Volume depletion (hypovolaemia)

44
Q

What type of pulse can hypovolaemia cause?

A

Thready

45
Q

How may the pulse & BP be in the context of UGIB?

A
  • Pulse → tachycardia, thready
  • BP → hypotension (late)
46
Q

When do patients with UGIB tend to develop hypovolaemia?

A

Not until there has been significant blood loss (i.e. 1500-2000 mls)

47
Q

How may urine output be affected by UGIB?

A

Urine output is maintained until there has been significant blood loss → oliguria indicates significant blood loss

48
Q

What is oliguria defined as?

A

<0.5ml/kg/hour in an adult

49
Q

What factors affect a patient’s fluid status?

A

Urine output, vomiting, oral fluids, IV fluids, drain output, stool output

50
Q

What clinical sign may be present in the context of UGIB?

A

Pallor (anaemia)

51
Q

How may UGIB affect CRT?

A

CRT may be prolonged (>2 seconds) both peripherally and centrally

52
Q

How may a patient’s peripheries feel in UGIB?

A

Cool 2ary to hypovolaemia and peripheral vasoconstriction

53
Q

Why may ascites be present on abdominal examination in UGIB?

A

2ary to cirrhotic liver disease

54
Q

How can cirrhosis lead to UGIB?

A

Portal hypertension can lead to oesophageal/gastric varices which can bleed

55
Q

Why may abdominal tenderness be present in the context of UGIB?

A

Duodenal ulcer (perforation)

56
Q

Classification of haemorrhagic shock

A
57
Q

Describe the HR as blood is increasingly lost

A

Gradually becomes tachycardic as more blood is lost

<100 → 100-120 → 120-140 → >140

58
Q

Describe the BP as blood is increasingly lost

A

Normal until significant amounts of blood is lost

Normal → normal → decreased → decreased

59
Q

Describe the RR as blood is increasingly lost

A

Steadily increases (tachypnoea) as more blood is lost

14-20 → 20-30 → 30-40 → >40

60
Q

Give 2 reasons to cannulate a patient in the context of UGIB?

A
  1. Blood tests
  2. Adequate IV access is essential in UGIB as patients rapidly deteriorate with haemodynamic instability
61
Q

What type of cannula should be used?

A

Two large bore cannulae (14-16G)

62
Q

During what stage of ABCDE should a patient be cannulated?

A

C

63
Q

What blood tests should be done in the ‘circulation’ assessment of a UGIB?

A
  • FBC
  • U&Es
  • LFTs
  • Group and cross match
  • Coagulation screen
64
Q

Why is an FBC useful in UGIB?

A

Assess degree of anaemia (guide transfusion)

65
Q

How can U&Es be affected in the context of UGIB?

A

High urea due to the digestion and absorption of blood proteins

66
Q

Why is a group and crossmatch essential in the context of UGIB?

A

To confirm patient’s blood group and request blood products

67
Q

Why are LFTs and a coagulation screen useful in UGIB?

A
  • LFTs → evidence of liver disease (e.g. cirrhosis)
  • Coagulation screen → screen for coagulopathy and inform resuscitation efforts
68
Q

Give some potential interventions in the ‘circulation’ aspect of UGIB?

A
  • IV fluid resuscitation
  • Blood transfusion
  • Platelets
  • Fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate
69
Q

What urine output should you aim for in a patient with UGIB?

A

>30ml/hour

70
Q

Which patients require IV fluid resuscitation?

A

Hypovolaemic patients

71
Q

What fluid/over how long should be given to hypovolaemia patients?

A

500ml bolus of 0.9% sodium chloride (or Hartmann’s solution) over 15 mins

72
Q

How much fluid should be given to hypovolaemic patients at risk of fluid overload (e.g. heart failure)?

A

250ml boluses

73
Q

After each fluid bolus, what should you do?

A

Reassess for clinical evidence of fluid overload (e.g. auscultation of the lungs, assessment of JVP)

74
Q

If the patient is losing significant volumes of blood, fluid replacement alone is inadequate. What else is needed?

A

Blood transfusion

75
Q

Prophylactic antibiotic therapy may be needed in patients with what type of bleed?

A

Variceal

76
Q

What diagnostic investigation should be performed on all unstable patients with severe UGIB immediately after resuscitation (or within 24 hours of admission for all other patients)?

A

Endoscopy

77
Q

Why should a PPI be offered before an endoscopy?

A

to reduce probability of re-bleeding

78
Q

When assessing the patient’s ‘disability’, how can you quickly assess the patient’s consciousness?

A

AVPU scale

79
Q

In UGIB, what can cause a patient’s consciousness level to be reduced?

A

Hypotension

Hepatic encephalopathy

80
Q

Describe the steps of AVPU

A
  • Alert → patient fully alert, although not necessarily orientated
  • Verbal → patient responds when you talk to them (e.g. words, grunt)
  • Pain → responds to painful stimulus (e.g. supraorbital pressure)
  • Unresponsive
81
Q

What 2 other factors can you use to assess the patient’s ‘disability’?

A
  • Pupils
  • Drug chart review for medications that can cause reduced level of consciousness
82
Q

What drugs can cause a reduced level of consciousness?

A

Opioids, sedatives, insulin, oral hypoglycaemic medications

83
Q

What aspects of the patients pupils should be assessed?

A
  • Size & symmetry
  • Direct & consensual pupillary responses
84
Q

What investigation should be performed in the ‘disability’ aspect of UGIB? Why?

A

Capillary blood glucose → hypo/hyperglycaemia can cause reduced level of consciousness

N.B. blood glucose may be already available e.g. from ABG, venepuncture

85
Q

What is a normal fasting plasma glucose?

A

4.0-5.8 mmol/l

86
Q

What plasma glucose is defined as hypoglycaemia?

A

<3.0 mmol/l

87
Q

What scale can be used for a more detailed assessment of consciousness?

A

GCS

88
Q

What GCS requires urgent help/airway securing?

A

= 8

89
Q

What is the ‘exposure’ aspect of ABCDE concerned with?

A

A more comprehensive examination of the patient

Completing the physical examination

Getting full overview of patient’s condition

90
Q

The ‘exposure’ aspect of ABCDE in UGIB may involve an inspection of the patient for signs of chronic liver disease and/or coagulopathy. What are 7 signs?

A
  1. Spider naevi
  2. Caput medusae
  3. Bruising
  4. Ascites
  5. Peripheral oedema
  6. Evidence of trauma/bleeding
  7. Petechiae
91
Q

What are petechiae?

A

Petechiae are pinpoint, round spots that appear on the skin as a result of bleeding.

92
Q

What can cause petechiae?

A

Thrombocytopenia

93
Q

Give 2 other potential observations/examinations in the ‘exposure’ aspect of UGIB. Explain why.

A

Rectal exam - assess for evidence of bleeding

Temperature - if fever present, consider infection

94
Q

Why should all acutely unwell patients be catheterised?

A

To monitor urine output

Yr 3 - RRAPID (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions