What is GORD?
Reflux of stomach acid back through the LOS, iritating the oesophageal lining.
Why is the oesophagus affected by the acid and not the stomach?
Oesophagus has a squamous epithelial lining.
Stomach has columnar epithelial lining and bicarbonate-rich mucus.
What causes the reflux to occur?
Transient relaxation of the LOS
How does GORD present?
Burning retrosternal chest pain:
When should you do an OGD in GORD?
Concerning Features/Red Flags
When should you admit urgently?
Bleeds:
How is GORD conservatively managed?
What OTC medication should be tried first?
- Rennie
How do Gaviscon and Rennie work?
Antacids
What drug should be prescribed first hand?
PPIs
What else may be prescribed for GORD?
Ranitidine
How does Ranitidine work?
H2 antagonist
- Blocks parietal cell stimulation
What surgery is used for GORD?
Fundoplication
How does fundoplication work?
Narrows the LOS
What can predispose to GORD and gastritis?
H.pylori
What is H.pylori
Gram negative helical bacteria
Is H.pylori aerobic or anaerobic?
Aerobic
How does H.pylori avoid the gastric acid?
Sits in the gastric mucosa
How does H.pylori cause epithelial damage?
Breaks the gastric mucosa, exposing the epithelial lining underneath to the acid
What does H.pylori produce?
Ammonia (neutralises HCl)
Who gets a H.pylori test?
Anyone with dyspepsia
What are the H.pylori tests?
What is the rapid urease test?
CLO Test
How is H.pylori treated?
Triple eradication