GI Bleeding Flashcards

1
Q

Are upper or lower GI bleeds more common?

A

Upper GI

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2
Q

Why are NSAIDs a risk factor for an upper GI bleed?

A

They inhibit prostaglandins synthesis which are gastroprotective, this leads to excessive HCl secretion and mucosal damage.

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3
Q

Why does urea rise in upper GI bleeds?

A

Blood in GI tract gets broken down by acid and digestive enzymes, urea is one of the breakdown products and is absorbed in the intestines.

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4
Q

Which drug would you use for the prophylaxis of oesophageal bleeding?

A

Propranolol

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5
Q

What is the most common cause of UGIB?

A

Peptic ulcer disease

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6
Q

Define UGIB

A

Upper GI bleed - bleeding from oesophagus, stomach or duodenum.

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7
Q

List the cause of UGIB

A

Peptic ulcer disease.
Gastritis.
Oesophageal varices.
Mallory-Weiss tear.
Oesophageal and gastric cancer.

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8
Q

What are oesophageal varices and why do they occur?

A

Abnormal, dilated veins at the lower end of oesophagus due to portal hypertension, secondary to chronic liver disease/cirrhosis.

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9
Q

What is a Mallory-Weiss tear?

A

Tear of mucous membrane at gastro-oesophageal junction or within gastric cardia.

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10
Q

What is the classical presentation of a Mallory-Weiss tear?

A

An episode of haematemesis followed by related episodes of vomiting.

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11
Q

List the risk factors for an UGIB

A

NSAIDs, anticoagulants, alcohol abuse, chronic liver disease, CKD, advancing age, Hx of peptic ulcer disease or H.pylori infection.

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12
Q

What are the clinical features of an UGIB?

A

Haematemesis, melaena, shock (tachycardia, hypotension).
Symptoms related to pathology e.g. epigastric pain and dyspepsia (peptic ulcer) or jaundice and ascites (liver disease causing varices).

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13
Q

What investigations for UGIB?

A

Upper GI endoscopy (within 24 hrs).
Bloods: FBC, U&Es, LFTs, clotting, group & save with cross match.

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14
Q

What are the 2 scoring systems used to assess risk of UGIB?

A

Glasgow-Blatchford score and Rockall score.

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15
Q

Which features does Glasgow-Blatchford score take into account?

A

Drop in Hb, rise in urea, BP, HR, melaena, syncopy.

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16
Q

When is the Rockall score used?

A

Post-endoscopy

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17
Q

Which features does Rockall score take into account?

A

Age.
BP and HR.
Co-morbidities.
Diagnosis (cause of bleeding).
Endoscopic stigmata of recent haemorrhage e.g. clots or bleeding vessels.

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18
Q

Briefly describe the management for an UGIB

A

ABCDE approach to resuscitation.
Bloods: FBC, U&Es, clotting, LFTs, cross match.
Access (2 large bore cannulas).
Transfuse: bloods, platelets, clotting factors (FFP).
Endoscopy (OGD): aspirate blood, intervention to stop bleeding e.g. banding or cauterisation.
Drugs (stop anticoagulants and NSAIDs).

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19
Q

When would you use prothrombin complex concentrate?

A

To reverse warfarin in patients taking it and actively bleeding.

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20
Q

How would you manage a variceal bleed?

A

Terlipressin, prophylactic broad spectrum antibiotics, variceal band ligation/stent/transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS).

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21
Q

What is the MOA of terlipressin?

A

ADH analogue —> splanchnic vasoconstriction —> reducing portal pressure.

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22
Q

What is a LGIB?

A

Lower GI bleed - bleeding distal to duodenum.

23
Q

How would an acute LGIB present?

A

PR bleeding, +/- shock.

24
Q

How would a chronic LGIB present?

A

Incidental finding - iron deficiency anaemia, positive FIT test.

25
Q

What are the causes of acute LGIB?

A

Diverticulosis, haemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas, ischaemic colitis, angiodysplasia, polyps, colorectal carcinoma, IBD, infective (dysentery).

26
Q

What is the most common cause of LGIB?

A

Diverticulosis

27
Q

What are diverticula?

A

Sac-like protrusions of colonic mucosa through muscular wall.

28
Q

What are haemorrhoids?

A

Enlarged blood vessels in rectum/anus (enlarged anal vascular cushions).

29
Q

What are fissures?

A

Tears in anal mucosa.

30
Q

What are fistulas?

A

Abnormal connections between 2 epithelial surfaces.

31
Q

Define angiodysplasia

A

Abnormal, tortuous, dilates small blood vessels in mucosa and sub mucosa. Abnormal connections between artery and vein.

32
Q

Define polyp

A

Benign neoplastic proliferations of colonic epithelium.

33
Q

What investigations would you do for a suspected LGIB?

A

Bloods: FBC, U&Es, LTFs, clotting, group & save with cross match.
Digital rectal exam.
CT abdomen/pelvis.
CT angiography.
OGD endoscopy.
Colonoscopy.

34
Q

Why is a colonoscopy difficult to do in an emergency?

A

Due to faeces blocking colon.

35
Q

How would you manage a stable LGIB?

A

Minor: discharge & outpatient investigations.
Major: lower GI endoscopy.

36
Q

How would you manage an unstable LGIB/active bleed?

A

Urgent resuscitation: A to E approach, blood products.
Reversal of anticoagulants.
CT angiogram: embolisation or endoscopy techniques.

37
Q

When is surgical intervention required for a LGIB?

A

Ongoing GI bleeding with instability, where endoscopic & radiographic treatments have failed.

38
Q

Treatment for gastric varices?

A

Sclerotherapy or TIPS if bleeding not controlled.

39
Q

What is the Oakland score?

A

Used to predict risk of adverse outcomes for LGIB.

40
Q

Which factors does Oakland score take into account?

A

Age, gender, previous LGIB admission, DRE findings, HR, BP, Hb.

41
Q

Can acute UGIB present with PR bleeding?

A

Yes - because if the patient is bleeding really quickly and in shock, the blood can pass through the GI tract without the chance of it being digested (e.g. melaena).

42
Q

Investigations for iron deficiency anaemia in postmenopausal females and males with no history of significant overt non-GI blood loss?

A

Coeliac screen.
FIT test.
PR examination.
OGD endoscopy.
Lower GI endoscopy.

43
Q

What is used to stop an uncontrolled variceal haemorrhage?

A

Sengstaken-Blakemore tube

44
Q

What should be used to control a variceal bleed if other measures fail?

A

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPSS) - connects hepatic vein to portal vein.

45
Q

What is the Rockall score a measure of?

A

Percentage risk of rebleeding and mortality.

46
Q

What does Glasgow-Blatchford score measure?

A

Determines whether a patient will need to be admitted for medical intervention.

47
Q

What are the risk factors for haemorrhoids?

A

Constipation/straining, pregnancy, obesity, increased age and increased intra-abdominal pressure (weightlifting or chronic cough).

48
Q

Describe the classification for haemorrhoids

A

1st degree: no prolapse.
2nd degree: prolapse when straining and return on relaxing.
3rd degree: prolapse when straining, do not return on relaxing, but can be pushed back.
4th degree: prolapsed permanently.

49
Q

Describe the symptoms of haemorrhoids

A

May be asymptomatic.
Painless, bright red rectal bleeding (on toilet tissue) that is not mixed with stool. May be associated with sore/itchy anus or lump around/inside anus.

50
Q

What are the differentials for rectal bleeding?

A

Haemorrhoids, anal fissures, diverticulosis, IBD, colorectal cancer.

51
Q

Name the topic treatments used for the symptomatic relief of haemorrhoids

A

Anusol (shrinks haemorrhoids – ‘astringents’).
Anusol HC (contains hydrocortisone – short term use).
Germoloids cream (contains lidocaine).
Proctosedyl ointment (contains cinchocaine and hydrocortisone – short term use).

52
Q

Describe the non-surgical treatment of haemorrhoids

A

Rubber band ligation.
Injection sclerotherapy (injection of phenol oil into the haemorrhoid to cause sclerosis and atrophy).
Infra-red coagulation (infra-red light is applied to damage the blood supply).
Bipolar diathermy.

53
Q

Describe the surgical management of haemorrhoids

A

Haemorrhoidal artery ligation: using a proctoscope to identify the blood vessel that supplies the haemorrhoids and suturing it to cut off the blood supply.
Haemorrhoidectomy: excising the haemorrhoid (may result in faecal incontinence).
Stapled haemorrhoidectomy: excises a ring of haemorrhoid tissue at the same time as adding a circle of staples in the anal canal.

54
Q

Name one complication of haemorrhoids

A

Thrombosed haemorrhoids - caused by strangulation at the base of the haemorrhoid, resulting in thrombosis in the haemorrhoid. They’re very painful, appearing as purplish, very tender, swollen lump around the anus.