GI Flashcards
where in the oesophagus are oesophageal varices most likely
lower oesophagus and gastric cardia
also found in the stomach, around the umbilicus (caput medusae) and rectum.
name pre-hepatic causes of oesophageal varices
portal or hepatic vein thrombosis
name intra-hepatic causes of oesophageal varices
cirrhosis
schistosomiasis (developing countries)
name post-hepatic causes of oesophageal varices
right heart failure
budd-chiari syndrome
veno-occlusive disease
constrictive pericarditis
risk factors for variceal bleeds
high portal pressure
variceal size
endoscopic features of variceal bleed (e.g. haematocystic spots)
child-pugh score ≥8
prophylaxis of variceal bleeds
propranolol
endoscopic band ligation
secondary cause
- transjugular intrahepatic portal-systemic shunt (TIPSS)
acute variceal bleed management
call senior
resus until harm-dynamically stable
correct clotting abnormalities - vitamin K, FFP, platelets.
IVI TERLIPRESSIN
endoscopic band ligation or sclerotherapy 2nd line
Sengstaken-Blakemore tube - if bleeding ongoing
liver failure causes
Infections
- hepatitis B + C
- EBV
- CMV
Hereditary
- Wilsons disease
- Hereditary haemachromatosis
- Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
Budd-chiari syndrome
NAFLD
alcohol fatty liver disease
Primary biliary cirrhosis
primary sclerosis cholangitis
autoimmune hepatitis
drugs
- paracetamol overdose
- isoniazid
HELLP syndrome
malignancy (HCC, cholangiocarcinoma)
signs of liver failure
jaundice
hepatic encephalopathy
fetor hepaticus (smells like pear drops)
asterixis/flap
Bloods for liver failure
FBC, U+E, LFT, Clotting, GLUCOSE
paracetamol level
hepatitis serology
cmv + ebv serology
ferritin
alpha-1-antitrypsin level
caeruloplasmin autoantibodies
imaging for liver failure
abdominal USS
DOPPLER-FLOW STUDIES TO ASSESS FOR PORTAL VEIN THROMBOSIS
management of liver failure
- Nurse with a 20° head-up tilt in ITU. Protect the airway with intubation and insert an NG tube to avoid aspiration and remove any blood from stomach.
- Insert urinary and central venous catheters to help assess fluid status.
- Monitor T°, respirations, pulse, BP, pupils, UO hourly. Daily weights.
- Check FBC, U&E, LFT and INR daily
- 10% glucose IV, 1L/12h to avoid hypoglycaemia. Do glucose every 1-4h.
- Treat the cause, if known (e.g. GI bleeds, sepsis, paracetamol poisoning)
- If malnourished, get dietary help: good nutrition can decrease mortality (e.g. carbohydrate-rich foods). Give thiamine and folate supplements.
- Treat seizures with lorazepam!
- Haemofiltration or haemodialysis if renal failure develops
- Try to avoid sedatives and other drugs with hepatic metabolism
- Consider PPI as prophylaxis against stress ulceration, e.g. omeprazole
- Liaise early with nearest transplant centre.
complications of liver failure
- Bleeding
- Ascites
- Infection - sbp
- hypoglycaemia
- encephalopathy
- cerebral oedema
factors that indicate worse prognosis in liver failure
- Grade III-IV encephalopathy
- Age >40y
- Albumin <30g/l
- High INR
- Drug-induced liver failure
- Late-onset hepatic failure worse than fulminant failure
name some hepatotoxic drugs
o Paracetamol o Methotrexate o Isoniazid o Azathioprine o Phenothiazines o Oestrogen o 6-mercaptopurine o Salicylates o Tetracycline o Mitomycin
which drugs should be avoided in patients with liver failure
opiates - cause constipation (increase risk of encephalopathy)
sedatives
oral hypoglycaemics
underlying cause of hepatic encephalopathy
liver failure causes ammonia build up in the circulation and passes to the brain.
astrocytes clear it (by processes involving the conversion of glutamate to glutamine.
excess glutamine causes an osmotic imbalance and a shift of fluid into these cells - hence cerebral oedema in liver disease.
grading of hepatic encephalopthy
o I – altered mood/behaviour; sleep disturbance (e.g. reversed sleep pattern); dysparaxia (please copy this 5 pointed star); poor arithmetic. No liver flap.
o II – increasing drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech ± liver flap, inappropriate behaviour/personality change (ask family)
o III – incoherent; restless; liver flap; stupor
o IV – coma
management of hepatic encephalopathy
lactulose ± enemas
rifaximin
triad of hepatorenal syndrome
cirrhosis + ascites + renal failure
types of hepatorenal syndrome
HRS1 - rapidly progressive deterioration in circulatory and renal function (median survival 2 weeks)
HRS2 - steady deterioration (survival about 6 months)
King’s college criteria for liver transplantation - paracetamol-induced liver failure
Paracetamol-induced liver failure
- Arterial ph <7.3 24hours after ingestion
OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
o PT >100sec
o Creatinine >300umol/l
o Grade III or IV encephalopathy
King’s college criteria for liver transplantation - non-paracetamol liver failure
Non-paracetamol liver failure
- PT >100sec
OR 3 OUT OF 5 THE FOLLOWING: o Drug-induced liver failure o Age <10 or >40y o >1week from 1st jaundice to encephalopathy o PT >50sec o Bilirubin ≥300umol/l
cirrhosis causes
- Chronic alcohol abuse
- HBV or HCV infection
- Genetic disorders: haemochromatosis, alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency, Wilson’s disease
- Hepatic vein events (budd-Chiari)
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- Autoimmunity: primary biliary cirrhosis; primary sclerosing cholangitis; autoimmune hepatitis
- Drugs: amiodarone, methyldopa, methotrexate