Gastroenterology & Hepatology — Flashcards

Flashcard 571: _____ is a chronic functional disorder characterised by abdominal pain, bloating, change in bowel habit caused by gut-brain axis dysregulation

Answer: Irritable bowel syndrome IBS

Flashcard 572: _____ bowel obstruction is more likely to present with vomiting

Answer: Small

Flashcard 573: Pancreatic cancers have a terrible prognosis because _____

Answer: they nearly always present late

Flashcard 574: A alcoholic patient experiences sudden-onset severe epigastric pain that radiates to the back, vomiting, and has discolouration on the flank. What is the likely diagnosis? _____

Answer: Acute pancreatitis

Flashcard 575: What is the initial management of bowel obstruction (small & large)? 1. _____ 2. NG tube for decompression 3. IV fluids

Answer: Nil by mouth

Extra: Initial management for both small and large bowel obstruction (drip and suck): 1. NPO (Nil per os) to rest the bowel. 2. Nasogastric (NG) tube decompression to relieve proximal pressure. 3. Aggressive IV fluid resuscitation and electrolyte correction. Note: While the general initial steps are similar, the definitive management (and urgency of surgery) often differs significantly between SBO (often adhesional, trial of conservative) and LBO (often neoplastic, more likely surgical).

Flashcard 576: _____ is the tumour maker indicative of pancreatic cancer

Answer: CA19-9

Flashcard 577: Pancreatic cancer classically presents as _____

Answer: painless jaundice

Flashcard 578: Hiatus hernia can present as symptoms associated with _____

Answer: GORD

Flashcard 579: The only curative mainstay of management for pancreatic cancer is _____.

Answer: Surgical resection (e.g. Whipple procedure)

Extra: Pancreatic cancer often presents late. While surgery is the curative mainstay, ~80% of patients are unresectable at diagnosis and receive palliative care (analgesia, biliary stenting, etc.).

Flashcard 580: What is the definitive investigation for small bowel obstruction? _____

Answer: CT scan