W16 56 gastroenterology for dentists Flashcards
What is GORD?
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is the retrograde flow of gastric contents into the oesophagus
When does GORD present?
When the reflux of gastric contents causes frequent, severe symptoms or mucosal damage.
What factors can cause GORD (multi factorial)?
Due to a retrograde slow up the gastrooesophageal sphincter up into the gullet, pushing into the oral cavity
Sometimes due to acidity
GORD usually has lower LOS pressures
Diaphragm acts as an ‘external sphincter’
Acid and pepsin damage the oesophageal mucosa, damage proportional to acid exposure
Bile acids and pancreatic enzymes probably have a limited role
Symptoms don’t necessarily relate to amount of oesophageal damage. But what are the symptoms of GORD?
Heartburn - related to meals, lying down, stooping and straining, relived by antacids
Retrosternal discomfort
Acid brash
Regurgitation acid or bile
Water brash
Excessive salivation
Odynophagia
Pain on swallowing (from severe oesohagitis)
Dental erosions
Acute gastrointestinal bleeding should be referred immediately. How does GI bleeding present?
Haematemesis
Melaena
Weakness/sweating
Postural dizziness/fainting
Collapse/shock
(Chest pain or palpitations)
Upper GI alarm symptoms - when should you send for an urgent referral for endocarditis or assessment?
When patients present with:
Chronic gastrointestinal bleeding
Progressive unintentional weight loss
Progressive difficult swallowing (dysphagia)
Persistent vomiting
Iron deficiency anaemia
Epigastric mass
New dyspepsia in those greater than 50 years
What are the causes of peptic ulcer disease?
NSAIDs/Coxib/aspirin/antithrombotics
Helicobacter pylori
How do you treat peptic ulcer disease?
Endoscopy allows visualisation of bleeding site acutely and therapy
Treatment with PPI
What is the effect of NSAIDs on symptomatic upper GI events?
Naproxen is the most gastrotoxic
Ibuprofen is associated with 2 fold risk of gastric ulceration
What are gastroprotectants?
Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) Eg omeprazole, lansoprazole
Histamine antagonists eg ranitidine
They act on the ATPase pump
What are some lower gastrointestinal alarm features that should be tested to exclude cancer?
Age >=50
Rectal bleeding
Recent change in bowel habit
Nocturnal symptoms
Unexplained or unintentional weight loss
Iron deficiency anaemia
Family history of colorectal cancer or IBD
What is Coeliac disease?
A chronic autoimmune GI disorder from infancy. Characterised by anaemia, weight loss and abdominal pain or discomfort. It is caused by an intolerance to gluten eg wheat, oats, rye. Treatment is a gluten free diet.
Can be associated with aphthous ulceration.
Diagnosed with blood serology (TTG) but confirmed by duodenal biopsy.
How do you diagnose IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)?
Routine blood tests, including coeliac serology
Avoid exhaustive investigation
Rome III criteria
What is the Rome III criteria?
At least three months, with onset at least six months previously, of recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort associated with two or more of the following:
Improvement with defecation; and/or
Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool; and/or
Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool.
How can you subdivide IBS patients by stool pattern?
Diarrhoea-predominant (IBS-D)
Constipation-predominant (IBS-C)
Mixed (IBS-M)
Post-infectious (IBS-P)