Gastro Flashcards
A 62 year old man with hx of chronic alcohol abuse presents with 2 day hx of deteriorating confusion.
On examination he is drowsy, has a temp of 39, pulse of 110, and small amount of ascites. Examination of cns reveals left sided hemiparesis with up going left plantar response. What is likely diagnosis?
Cerebral abscess
What is the most common cause of severe viral gastroenteritis worldwide?
Rotavirus
How does rotavirus infection spread?
Faeco oral route
In which patients is rotavirus most common?
Children 6m to 6y
How does rotavirus lead to diarrhoea and vomiting?
RNA virus replicates in intestinal mucosal cells
Damages transport mechanisms leading to salt and water depletion
How is a diagnosis of rotavirus made?
Clinical features
Stool culture - virus
PCR
What is treatment for rotavirus?
Rehydration
Correction of electrolyte imbalances
What is jaundice? When is it clinically detectable?
Yellow discolouration of sclera, skin and mucous membranes as a result of accumulation of bile pigments (bilirubin)
Clinically detectable at >50micromol/L
What HPC questions are important in a patient with jaundice? And what differentials do these questions highlight?
Abdo pain: gallstones, cholangitis, pancreatic Ca
Colour of urine/stool – conjugated bilirubin
Pruritis – cholestasis
Fever, rigors – cholangitis
Alcohol intake - cirrhosis
Blood transfusions - haemolytic transfusion reaction
Recent travel - hepatitis
Drug history including IVDU - hepatitis
What is courvoisiers law?
In presence of jaundice, enlarged gallbladder is unlikely to be due to gallstones/chronic cholecystitis
What is Murphys sign?
Tenderness elicited on palpation at the midpoint of the right subcostal margin on inspiration
What signs might you look for in a patient with jaundice on examination?
General inspection – ascites, widespread jaundice
Hands – palmar erythema, Duputryen’s, clubbing, asterixis, leukonychia
Sclera - icterus
Mouth - fetor hepaticus
LN in neck
Upper chest – spider naevi, gynaecomastia, ecchymosis
Abdomen – hepatosplenomegaly, ascites, caput medusae
Why do you get palmar erythema in cirrhosis?
Impaired breakdown of sex hormones
What is Charcots triad?
RUQ pain
Jaundice
Fever
Ascending cholangitis
How is jaundice classified? Give examples of each
Pre-hepatic: haemolysis
Intra-hepatic: Viral hepatitis, Cirrhosis, Alcoholic hepatitis, Drugs
Post-hepatic: Obstruction, Cholangitis
What are differences between unconjugated and conjugated bilirubin?
Conjugated: Converted to urobilinogen and excreted giving stool its dark colour, Hyperbilirubinaemia
Unconjugated: Not water soluble, Does not pass into urine as bound to albumin, Mild jaundice as liver usually handles increased bilirubin
Which enzyme conjugates bilirubin in the liver? What is it conjugated with?
Glucuronyltransferase
Conjugates with glucuronic acid
How does haem get metabolised to bilirubin?
Haem oxygenase converts haem to biliverdin
Biliverdin reductase converts to bilirubin
What are the main bilirubin products found in the urine and faeces?
Breakdown products of urobilinogen
Urine: urobilin
Faeces: stercobilin
What differences in LFTs would you see in intra or extra hepatic jaundice?
Intrahepatic: Transaminases very high : Alk Phos high
Extrahepatic: Transaminases high : Alk Phos very high
What investigations would you do for a patient who is jaundice?
Bedside: Urine
Bloods: FBC, LFTs, U+Es, Clotting (PT/INR)
Imaging: USS abdomen – identify obstruction
Special tests: Serum autoimmune antibody tests (ANA, ASMA, anti-smooth muscle, liver/kidney microsomal antibodies), Serum viral markers (hep A, B, C)
What is the management for alcoholic hepatitis?
Supportive: Adequate nutritional intake – may require NG
Corticosteroids: Evidence to suggest reduces inflammatory process
What are some causes of hepatitis?
Toxic damage Drugs Poisons/chemical Alcohol Infections Viral Bacterial Fungal Protozoa Immunological damage Autoimmune
What are differences between acute and chronic viral hepatitis?
Acute (<6months): Fever / nausea / malaise / myalgia, Hepatomegaly, Pain, Jaundice
Chronic (>6 months): May be asymptomatic, Symptoms associated with cirrhosis