Lower GI- PART III WK 7 Flashcards
(94 cards)
definition of Acute Intestinal Peforation
EMERGENCY
Any part of GI tract can perforate, spilling gastric and intestinal contents into abd cacity
Causes of Acute Intestinal Peforation
Common causes: blunt or penetrating trauma, foreign bodies
Causes in SI: duodenal ulcer, corrosives, strangulation of bowel, acute appendicitis
Causes in colon: obstruction, diverticulitis, IBD, toxic megacolon
SSX of Acute Intestinal Peforation
sudden and catastrophic: severe generalized abd pain, tenderness, signs of shock, N/V, anorexia
In pts with underlying GI disorder, looks like “worsening” (more gradual and localized pain)
PE of Acute Intestinal Peforation
bowel sounds- quiet to absent
peritoneal signs - guarding and rigidity
work up for acute intestinal perforation
free air seen (usu in SI) on abdominal xray or abdominal CT
Gastroenteritits
Inflammation of lining of stomach, SI, and colon (from infections most commonly)
typically self-limiting, but can be serious in young, elderly, immunocompromised
Hx: ask re ingestion of potentially contaminated food or water, travel, contact with similarly ill person, medication use (recent antibiotic use)
Normal Intestinal Microflora
The typical GI tract is inhabited by 500 different bacterial species
Stomach and proximal small bowel: few bacteria because of acidity
Jejunum: lactobacilli, enterococci, gram pos aerobes, facultative anaerobes
Terminal ileum: enterobacteria, coliforms
Colon: anaerobes- bacteriodes, lactobacillus, clostridium, bifidobacterium
General SSX of Gastroenteritis
varies. sudden onset of N/V, anorexia, abdominal cramps and diarrhea
may be malaise and myalgia
PE & work-up for Gastroenteritis
PE: Distended abdomen, tenderness, borborymi
Work up: hemoccult, fecal WBCs, O&P, culture -> stool test
Rapid enzyme assays: viral antigens, Shiga toxin, CBC, CMP
factoids about Viral Gastroenteritis
comprises 30-40% of infectious diarrhea in US
viruses infect enterocytes in SI villi leading to transudate of fluid/salt into lumen, causes watery diarrhea, stools rarely contain blood or mucus
causes of Viral Gastroenteritis
Rotovirus Norovirus Astrovirus Enteric Adenovirus CMV and Enterovirus (in immunocompromised)
Rotovirus
most common cause of infectious diarrhea worldwide
highly contagious: fecal-oral route
prevalence throughout yr; peak incidence occurs in winter months
severe, dehydrating diarrhea in kids (can be deadly, peak incidence 3-15 mo), mild in adults
SSX: vomiting, fever >102, sx can last 5-7 days
Norovirus
older children and adults, year -round incidence
can be epidemic with water and food-borne outbreaks, highly contagious
SSX: acute onset vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, HA, lasts 1-2 days
Astrovirus
infants and young kids, winter months, fecal-oral route
SSX: similar to rotavirus
Enteric Adenovirus
kids <2yo affected, year-round/summer, fecal-oral route
SSX: diarrhea followed by mild vomiting. Diarrhea lasts 1-2 weeks
CMV and enterovirus
can cause gastroenteritis in immunocompromised
causes of Bacterial gastroenteritis
Exotoxin Enterotoxin Parasitic infections Fungal overgrowth Drug and Chemical-related gastroenteritis
Exotoxin
toxin secreted by microorganism and released into the environment then pre-formed toxin ingested in contaminated food
causing nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea within 12 hrs of ingestion
minimal systemic sx (except botulinum)
sx abate within 36 hrs
stools have NO blood or WBCs
Types of Exotoxin
Staphylococcus aureus
Bacillus cereus
Clostridium perfingens
Clostridium botulinum
Staphylococcus aureus (an Exotoxin, a cause of bact gastroenteritis)
Staphylococcus aureus- most common food poisoning, toxin introduced by food-handlers
common foods involved: custard, milk products, potato sald, coleslaw, processed meat/fish at room temp
SSX: sudden, abrupts, severe vomiting 2-6 hr after ingesting, explosive diarrhea, abd cramps, rarely fever
course: last 3-6 hrs, usu complete recovery
Bacillus cereus (an Exotoxin, a cause of bact gastroenteritis)
Bacillus cereus- spore-forming organism found in soil
contamination of food before cooking which survive high heat
common foods: contaminated rice or meat
SSX: 2 distinct syndromes: emesis- 2-6 hrs after ingestion severe vomiting, abd pain with or without diarrhea, no fever no systemic sxs OR diarrhea- h-16 hrs, foul smelling, profuse with nausea, abd pain, tenesmus
course: resolves in 12-24 hrs
Clostridium perfringens (an Exotoxin, a cause of bact gastroenteritis)
Clostridium perfringens - spore forming anaerobe widely distributed in feces, soil, air, water
most toxin synthesized before ingestion, additional produced in GI after ingestion of contaminated beef, beef products, poultry
food inadequately pre-cooked and then reheated before served
SSX- watery diarrhea, foul smelling with severe, crampy abd pain, 8-26 hr after ingestion
course: self-limited, resolves in 24-36 hrs
Clostridium botulinum (an Exotoxin, a cause of bact gastroenteritis)
Clostridium botulinum- (3 exotoxin types- A, B, E)
responsible for 1/3 of deaths from food borne dz
types A, B associated with improperly prepared home-canned non-acidic fruits & veg - string beans, corn, mushroom, spinach, olives, beets, asparagus
Type E assoc with smoked freshwater fish
boiling in water for 15 min can inactivate exotoxin
SSx- incubation 4 hr - 8 days after ingestin
phase 1- vague- short period of fatigue, N/V, abd cramps, darrhea
phase 2- visual- diplopia, decreased acuity, PERRLA, ptosis
phase 3- neurological- descending weakness or paralysis, dysarthria, dysphagia, weakness of trunk and extremities, sensorium unaffected, normal or low temp
blood, urine, CSF normal
Course: 65% mortality 2-9 days following ingestion
with tx < 10% supportive to prevent respiratory impairment
DDX: polio, encephalitis, M. gravis, curare, belladonna poisoining
Enterotoxin
Cytotoxin produced by bacteria, specific for the mucous membrane of the intestine (in vivo). The toxin impair intestinal absorption, increases secretion of water and electrolytes, causing watery diarrhea