Vomiting & Malabsorption, & Infant feeding/nutrition Flashcards
What is the physiology of vomiting?
Pre-ejection phase=pallor, nausea, tachycardia
Ejection phase=retch, vomit
Post-ejection phase-lethargic, pale and sweaty
Occurs as a result of stimulating vomiting centre located in the medulla oblongata
Where is the chemoreceptor trigger zone located?
Base of the 4th ventricle-stimulated by certain chemicals and toxins like chemotherapy
What are the types of vomiting?
Vomiting with retching (early morning is associated with intracranial pathology)
Projectile vomiting
Bilious vomiting
Effortless vomiting (regurg)
Haematemesis (peptic ulcer, portal HT)
If there is palpation of ‘olive’ (thickened pylorus) tumour and visible gastric peristalsis and they have projectile non bilious vomiting after the feed what do you do?
Blood gas-Hypokalemic, hypochloremic, metabolic alkalosis
USS-thickened pylorus=pyloric stenosis
- Fluid resuscitation
- Refer to surgeons-Ramstedt’s pyloromyotomy
Who does pyloric stenosis affect and what are the signs of it?
Babies 4-12 weeks
Boys>girls (classically 1st born boys)
Projectile non bilious vomiting
Weight loss
Dehydration +/- shock
What is the characteristic electrolyte disturbance of pyloric stenosis?
Metabolic alkalosis (increased pH)
Hypochloraemia
Hypokalaemia
Effortless vomiting/regurgitation is almost always due to what?
GORD
- Very common problem in infants
Effortless vomiting/regurg is self limiting & resolves spontaneously in the vast majority of cases. What are a few exceptions?
- CP
- Progressive neurological problems
- Oesophageal atresia +/- TOF operated
- Generalised GI motility problem
What is Sandifer syndrome?
Dystonic posturing due to reflux
How do you diagnose GORD?
H&E often sufficient
- Oesophageal PH study/impedance monitoring
- Endoscopy
- Radiological investigations (video fluoroscopy, Barium swallow)
When do we investigate GORD?
If GORD doesn’t get better after a year of age - investigate for causes of reflux & look at severity and evidence of oesophagitis and also rule out anatomical problems like hiatus hernia
In whom is video fluoroscopy done in?
Children with aspiration pneumonias to see if there is a pharyngeal pouch or any incoordination of swallowing mechanism
Growth altering is rare but if it is seen what does it require?
Further investigation
How is a pH catheter placed in pH studies?
pH catheter with a single sensor is placed 5cm above the GOJ/LOS-measures the number of the times the pH in the oesophagus drops below 4
Why is pH combined with pH impedance monitoring?
pH studies will only detect acid reflux (& not weak acid reflux or non acid reflux)
6 sensors-detects acid and non acid and also air reflux
When is upper GI endoscopy done in children?
Done under GA
- Persistent symptoms
- Growth faltering
- Non-response to anti-reflux therapy
What is the treatment for GOR?
- Feeding advice
(appropriateness of food, behavioural programme, feeding position) - Nutritional support
(calorie supplements, exclusion diet (cow’s milk protein free trial for 4 wks), NG tube, gastrostomy) - Medical Tx
- Surgery
What are the appropriate feed volumes for neonates and infants?
Neonates= 150ml/kg per day
Infants= 100ml/kg per day
What is the medica Tx for GOR?
- Feed thickener (Gaviscon, thick & easy)
- Acid supressing drugs = H2 receptor blockers, PPIs
(Prokinetic drugs like domperidone not usually recommended due to the cardiac side effects)
What are the indications for surgery?
Failure of medical treatment
Persistent:
- Failure to thrive
- Aspiration
- Oesophagitis
Vomiting without complications may not be an indication
What is the surgical procedure done for GOR?
Nissen fundoplication
(Children with CP are more likely to have complications of bloat, dumping & retching after surgery)
Successful surgery may unmask more generalised GI motility problems in the child
Why should Bilious vomiting ALWAYS ring alarm bells?
Due to intestinal obstruction until proved otherwise
What are the causes of bilious vomiting?
Intestinal atresia (newborn babies only)
Malrotation +/- volvulus
Intussusception
Ileus
Crohn’s disease with strictures
What investigations are recommended for bilious vomiting?
Abdominal xray
Consider contrast meal
Surgical opinion re exploratory laparotomy
How is the SA of the small intestine so suited for absorption and what can be the issue if this is altered?
Mucosal folds and villi-600 fold increase in SA through this
Small intestine resection due to congenital anomalies or NEC causes malabsorption - short gut syndrome