Upper GI bleeding Flashcards
Generally how do patients with upper GI bleeding present ?
- Haematemesis &/or malaena
- Epigastric discomfort
- Sudden collapse
What are the oesophageal causes of upper GI bleeding ?
- Oesophagitis
- Oesophageal varices
- Malignancy
- Mallory-weiss tear
What are the gastric causes of upper GI bleeding ?
- Gastric ulcer
- Gastritis/ gastric erosions
- Gastric cancer
What are the dudodenal causes of upper GI bleeding
- Duodenal ulcer
- Erosive duodenitis
- Aorto-enteric fistulation
What is a peptic ulcer ?
The overall term for gastric & duodenal ulcers
What are the features suggestive of oesophagitis causing an upper GI bleed ?
- Small volume of fresh blood, often streaking vomit
- History of GORD symptoms
- Malaena rare.
Does oesophagitis causing GI bleeding usually require intervention ?
No usually ceases spontaneously
What are the features suggestive of a oesophageal malignancy causing upper GI bleeding ?
- Usually small volume of blood, except as pre terminal event with erosion of major vessels.
- Often associated symptoms of dysphagia and constitutional symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue etc.
- May be recurrent until malignancy managed.
What are the features suggestive of a mallory weiss tear causing upper GI bleeding ?
- Persistent vomiting/retching causes an oesophageal tear resulting in haematemesis
- Typically brisk small to moderate volume of bright red blood following bout of repeated vomiting.
- Malaena rare.
Does a mallory weiss tear usually require intervention ?
No usually ceases spontaneously
How do oesophageal varcies arise ?
- They are caused by anything which causes portal hypertension
- This results in collateral formation between the portal and systemic venous systems (in the lower oesophagus)
- These collaterals are prone to bleed profusley and repeatedly
When should you have a high clinical suspicion of oesophageal varices in someone with upper GI bleeding ?
- If the patient has a history of alcohol abuse or cirrhosis (from metabolic, autoimmune or hepatitis liver disease).
- Or signs of chronic liver disease - encephalopathy, splenomegaly, ascites, hyponatraemia, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia
What are the typical features of upper GI bleeding caused by oesophageal varices ?
- Usually large volume of fresh blood.
- Swallowed blood may cause malaena.
- Often haemodynamically compromised.
- May stop spontaneously but re-bleeds are common until appropriately managed.
What are the typical features of upper GI bleeding which would suggest a gastric cancer as the cause ?
- May be frank haematemesis or altered blood mixed with vomit.
- Usually prodromal features of dyspepsia (indegestion) and may have constitutional symptoms.
- Amount of bleeding variable but erosion of major vessel may produce considerable haemorrhage.
If dyspepsia with ALARM Symptoms then worry about gastric cancer
- Anaemia (iron deficiency)
- Loss of weight
- Anorexia
- Recent onset of progressive symptoms
- Melaena / haematemesis
- Swallowing difficulty
What is erosive gastritis and duodenitis
Gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed after it’s been damaged.
Same but for duodenum
List the common causes of erosive gastritis and duodenitis
- Bacterial - H. pylori bacterial infection
- Chemical - Excessive use of cocaine, alcohol or NSAID’s
- Autoimmune
- Acutely - a stressful event such as a bad injury or critical illness, or major surgery
What are the typical features of GI bleeding caused by erosive gastritis or duodenitis?
- Haematemesis
- Epigastric pain/tenderness often related to hunger, specific foods/times of the day
- May be associated bloating or heartburn
- Usually there is an underlying cause e.g. NSAID’s
- Large volume haemorrhage may occur with considerable haemodynamic compromise