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Patho
GI and Liver
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Dysphagia | Difficulty swallowing. Main clinical consequences can be malnutrition and aspiration |
Esophageal Pain | Pyrosis (heartburn). Reflux of gastric contents (acid) into esophagus. Pain in the middle of the chest. Mimics Angina Pectoris. |
Diarrhea | Increase in frequency & fluidity of bowel movements. Acute: infection, stress, food allergy. Chronic: Greater than 4 weeks. |
Constipation | Small, infrequent, or difficult bowel movements. Fewer than 3 stools per week. |
GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) | Backward flow of gastric contents into esophagus. May or may not produce symptoms. |
Hiatal Hernia | Cause not understood. Defect in the diaphragm that allows a portion of the stomach to pass into the thorax. |
Gastritis | Inflammation of stomach lining. May be acute: alcohol, Aspirin, Tobacco. Chronic: Helicobacter pylori. |
Gastroenteritis | Irritation of stomach & small intestinal lining. Acute: bacteria "travelers" Chronic: GI disorders |
Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) | Disorders of GI tract caused by the action of acid & prepsin. Involves interaction of pepsin acid, & mucosal protective agents. Esophagus, duodenum or jejunum. |
Ulcerative colitis (UC) | Inflammatory disease of the mucosa of the rectum & colon. Affects the epithelial layer. Cause is poorly understood. Abdominal pain, bloody, mucous-filled diarrhea. |
Crohn Disease (CD) | Inflammation of the GI tract that extends through ALL layers of the intestinal wall. Constant abdominal pain. |
Enterocolitis:Pseuomembranous Colitis | Inflammation & necrosis of large intestine. Also know as antibiotic associate colitis. Clostridium difficile. Diarrhea (often boody) |
Appendicitis | Most common cause of emergent abdominal surgery. Caused by obstruction. Inflammation of vermiform appendix. |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Disorder of Motility | Affects up to 20% US population. May be life altering. Clear definition not agree on. Alternating Diarrhea/constipation, Abdominal pain, No other defined pathology identified. |
Colon polyps | Any protrusion into the lumen of the GI tract. Refers to a benign or not-yet-malignant lesion. Treatment. Removal upon identification. |
Colon Cancer | Cancer that depends on location/size. Right side- black, tarry stools. Left side- obstruction, abdominal cramping. Rectum- Change in bowel habits. |
Bile | Formed in the liver then modified & stored in the gallbladder & bile ducts. Normally composed of water, electrolytes, & organic solutes. Low protein content. |
Cholelithiasis | Supersaturation of bile with cholesterol. Fancy word for Gallstones. Females |
Acute pancreatitis | Acute inflammation of pancreas. Usually an obstruction of pancreatic duct by a stone or other cause. |
Chronic Pancreatitis | Chronic inflammatory lesions within the pancreas. Destruction of endocrine & exocrine parenchyma. weeks to months persist |
Jaundice | Yellow green straining of tissues by bilirubin. Impaired bilirubin metabolism. |
Gastroesophageal Varices | Collateral venous pathway that occurs due to portal hypertension. As portal pressure elevates, becomes vulnerable to rupture. |
Portal hypertension | Elevated pressure in the portal system. Sluggish or obstructed flow through the portal vein/system. |
Hepatic Encephalopathy | Exact cause unclear. Hepatic failure or sever chronic liver disease. Associate with elevated ammonia levels. Asterixis (classic physical finding): liver flap |
Ascites | Accumulation of fluid in peritoneal cavity. Advanced liver disease. Intraabdominal accumulation of sodium, water, and protein. |
Cirrhosis | Irreversible end stage of multiple liver diseases. Fibrosis & wide spread scarring secondary to inflammation. Results in permanent alteration of hepatic blood flow. |
Alcoholic Liver disease | Abnormal deposits of fat in liver cells. |
Hepatitis A Virus | Changes in the Liver that is transmitted through Fecal-Oral or Sexual |
Hepatitis B Virus | Transmission by parenteral contact with blood, blood products.. |
Hepatitis C Virus | Important occupational risk for health care workers. Iv drug use, Blood transfusions. |
Hepatitis D Virus | Requires an infection with Hepatitis B to survive. Transmission by parenteral routes. Exposure to blood, Iv drug users. No specific treatment |
Hepatitis E Virus | Transmitted Fecal-Oral. Most common cause of acute hepatitis in developing countries. |