214.201 > GI tract > Flashcards

GI tract Flashcards

(59 cards)

Study These Flashcards
1
Q

What are some examples of congenital GI tract disorders?

A
  • Cleft lip & plate
  • Atresias (blockages of the tract)
  • Stenosis (narrowing of the tract)
  • Fistulas (abnormal opening)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is GERD and how does it occur?

A
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  • Irritation of oesophageal lining from stomach acid from the lower oesophageal (cardiac) sphincter
  • Barrett’s oesophagus can occur which is a serious complication
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are causes of GERD?

A
  • External causes such as smoking, diet, medications

- Internal causes such as diminished oesophageal clearance, low saliva

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How do you treat GERD?

A

Medication that lowers stomach acid production

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is gastritis and what forms are there?

A

Inflammation of gastric mucosa

  • Acute gastritis - sudden, severe inflammation
  • Chronic gastritis - long-term inflammation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are erosive causes of gastritis?

A

Not often has significant inflammation but can still wear away at stomach lining

  • Prolonged NSAIDs uses
  • Alcohol, cocaine & radiation
  • Traumatic injuries, criterial illnesses, severe burns, major surgery cause loss of blood/fluid to the gut
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are non-erosive causes of gastritis?

A
  • Helicobacter pylor infection of stomach lining
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Digestive diseases
  • Viruses, parasites, fungi, & bacteria
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How to diagnose gastritis?

A 
- Endoscopy with a biopsy of stomach
OR
- X-ray
- Blood test for anaemia from chronic bleeding
- Stool test for blood
- Test for H. pylori
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is treatment for gastritis?

A

Medications that reduce stomach acid to relieve symptoms and promote healing
Including:
- Antacids to neutralise acid
- Histamine blocker to lower acid production
- Proton pump inhibitor (PPI’s) more effectively lower acid production
Remove/reduce cause of gastritis - NSAIDs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are complications of gastritis?

A
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Gastric polys
  • Benign & malignant gastric tumours
  • People with H. pylori & autoimmune gastritis can develop atrophic gastritis which destroys cells of stomach lining leading to cancer
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are peptic ulcers?

A

Lesions in the gut lining of stomach, duodenum or oesophagus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How does ulcer occur?

A
  • When lining of organ is corroded by acidic gastric juices from stomach cells
  • Associated with H.pylori
  • Often includes hypergastrinemia (increased gastrin production)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are gastric ulcers?

A
  • Peptic ulcers in the stomach
  • Can bleed therefore presence of blood in vomit or stool indicate ulcer
  • If intreated can perforate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are duodenal ulcers?

A
  • Peptic ulcers in the duodenum
  • Most common
  • Hyper secretion of acid & pepsin which enters duodenum
  • Lower bicarbonate production by pancreas
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are oesophageal ulcers?

A
  • Peptic ulcers in the oesophagus
  • Result of gastric reflux
  • Least common
  • Onset fast due to unprotective oesophagus lining
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is pancreatitis?

A
  • When proteolytic enzymes inappropriately activated before leaving the pancreas which leaks into interstitial space
  • Causes inflammation, haemorrhage, fat necrosis of pancreatic fat, pancreatic necrosis
  • Presents with abdomen pain, nausea, fever, vomiting
  • 1 in 1000 incidences
  • Can be fatal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is acute pancreatitis?

A
  • Increased serum amylase & lipase levels

- Enzymes release inflammation & oedema in retroperitoneum (local damage)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are signs & symptoms/side effects of acute pancreatitis?

A
  • Shock, decreased vascular resistance, decreased oxygen, lung damage, renal failure, hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are causes of acute pancreatitis?

A

Gallstones block common duct or alcohol abuse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is chronic pancreatitis?

A

Permanent damage with fibrosis causing loss of functioning pancreatic tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are causes of chronic pancreatitis?

A

Mostly due to alcoholism where calcification of pancreatic ducts plugs the ducts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are signs & symptoms/side effects of chronic pancreatitis?

A
  • Chronic but mild abdominal pain
  • Diarrhoea in late stages
  • Weight loss due to systemic malabsorption from over 90% of pancreatic secretion lost
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is coeliac disease?

A
  • Gluten sensitivity
  • Hypersensitivity reaction to wheat, rye, barley from genetic cause
  • T-cell medicated autoimmune injury of intestinal epithelial cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How does coeliac disease occur?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Inflammation causes atrophy & flattening of small intestine vili
  • This causes malabsorption, chronic diarrhoea and pain
  • Malabsorption cause anaemia, osteoporosis and weight loss
25
How do you detect and treat coeliac disease?
- Detection through presence of auto-antibodies against tissue transaminase & antigliadin antibodies - Treatment through a gluten free diet
26
What is ulcerative colitis?
- Inflammatory bowel disease affecting lining of large intestine & rectum - Unknown cause - Categorised by location
27
What are symptoms of ulcerative colitis?
- Bloody diarrhoea - Left abdomen pain - Fever - Stress & certain foods trigger symptoms
28
What is proctitis?
Ulcerative colitis of rectum only
29
What is proctosigmoiditis?
Ulcerative colitis of rectum & sigmoid colon
30
What is left sided colitis?
Ulcerative colitis of entire left side of large intestine
31
What is pancolitis?
Ulcerative colitis of entire colon
32
What is the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis?
- Begins in rectum & proceeds to entire colon - Severity: mild and localised & progresses to sever - Inflammation, ulcerative, abscesses & denudation of mucosa - Normal mucosa surround ulcerated "hump" giving pseudopolyps appearance
33
What are clinical manifestations of ulcerative colitis?
- Ulceration - Oedema - pseudopolyps - Rectal bleeding - mild to severe - Diarrhoea - faecal urgency, bloody & mucus, loss of sodium & water - Lower abdomen cramping & pain
34
How to diagnose ulcerative colitis?
- Endoscopy - Stool (blood) positive - Complete blood count - Low Hb & hemacrit - Barium enema (mucosal irregularities, colon shortening, loss of haustra giving pipe like appearance)
35
What are complications of ulcerative colitis?
- Nutritional deficiencies - Massive bleeding - Severe diarrhoea - Increased colorectal cancer risk - Perforation (peritonitis)
36
What is Crohn's disease, what are the risk factors and how is it diagnosed?
- When any part of the GI tract, usually the colon or distal ileum has chronic inflammation causing "cobblestone pattern" of the submucosal ulcers which extend deep into the bowel forming fissures, fibrous scarring, & non-caseating granulomas - Unknown cause - Risk factors: family history, smoking - Diagnosed with endoscopy
37
What are signs & symptoms of Crohn's disease?
- Inflammation of submucosa lymphatic causing oedema, abscesses & ulceration - Mucosa have "cobblestone effect" due to ulcers surrounding inflamed mucosa - Mild pain, anorexia, & fever Advanced signs & symptoms: - Persistent pain - Abdomen tenderness - Diarrhoea - Fistula formation - Malnutrition - Perianal disease
38
What is diverticulitis?
- Pockets or pouches form on outside of colon & large intestine - Pocket hernias called diverticula build up infection causing diverticulitis - Caused by low fibre diet causing hard stool and increased pressure in left colon
39
What are polys?
- Benign mucosal tumours found in intestine - Can develop into cancer - Common in colon, rare in stomach - Stomach polys rarely cause symptoms but can bleed causing iron deficiency
40
How to detect and treat polys?
- Detect with colonscopy & polypectomy | - Treat with removal via surgery
41
What are the most common and least common GI tract cancers?
Most common - colon & rectum | Least common - small intestine
42
What is the cause of 95% of colorectal cancers?
Polys
43
What are risk factors of GI tract cancers?
- 50+ years - Family history - Bowel disease - Ovarian or breast cancer - Diet - Low exercise - Smoking - Overweight
44
What are adhesions?
- Bands of scar tissue between or around organs - Caused by infection, surgery or trauma - Can cause abdomen pain & intestinal obstruction
45
How do adhesions damage organs?
Normal shrinking of scar tissue impairs organ function by: - Decreasing internal volume and blocking movement of substances - Inhibiting muscle contractions - Preventing/restricting intestinal movement
46
What are hernias?
- Where a part of the body protrudes through a gap, tear or opening of another part - Two forms of hernia; Hiatal and inguinal
47
What are hiatal hernias?
- Opening in the diaphragm where oesophagus joins stomach | - Enables food & acid to go back up oesophagus causing heart burn, chest pain & nausea
48
What are inguinal hernias?
- When soft tissue protrudes through weak point or tear in lower abdomen wall - Can occur with muscle weakness, increased exercise, increase weight or increased coughing - Resulting bulge can be painful - Potentially life threatening complications - Treatment - key hole surgery
49
What are the two forms of intestinal obstructions?
- Mechanical - simple (luminal obstruction) or strangulated (luminal obstruction with ischaemia) - Non-mechanical/functional - neurogenic (post-operative)
50
What are causes of small intestine obstruction?
- 90% from adhesions & strangulated hernias | - Other from gallstones, food bolus obstruction, abdomen surgery
51
What are causes of large intestine obstruction?
- 90% from carcinomas, sigmoid diverticulitis, volvulus | - Other from abdomen surgery, adhesion, intussusception
52
What is volvulus?
Twisting of intestine
53
What is intussusception?
Telescoping (enfolding) of intestine
54
What is hernia?
Profusion of a structure through the tissues holding it
55
What is the pathophysiology of an intestinal obstruction?
- Build up of fluid & gas in lumen - Distention causes increased intraluminal pressure - Strangulation can block venous flow, stopping absorption - Water, potassium, & sodium leak into lumen cause loss of fluid & electrolytes
56
What are signs & symptoms of an intestinal obstruction?
- Anorexia - Constipation/liquid stools/diarrhoea - Severe or colicky pain - Abdomen tenderness, rebound tenderness, guarding - Nausea
57
What are diagnostic testing for an intestinal obstruction?
- Serum electrolytes decreased due to vomiting & distension - WBC normal or elevated - Increased Hb or heamocrit due to dehydration - Endoscopy: colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy - Auscultation (high pitched gurgling or no sound in non-mechanical obstruction - Imaging: CT, abdomen x-ray, ultrasound
58
What is perforation?
- Hole in GI tract wall due to disease of trauma | - Acute emergency, sever pain, peritonitis risk
59
What is peritonitis?
Infection of peritoneal cavity due to perforation or transduction of toxic intestinal contents into peritoneum
214.201
flashcards
Decks in class (17)
# Cards
Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2026 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions