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Hernia
  • 3 classifications for hernia
    • Reducible
      • Able to be reduced (placed back into the abdomen) at bedside
    • Incarcerated
      • Cannot be reduced but not severely tender or erythematous
      • Can occasionally cause bowel obstructions
    • Strangulated
      • Cannot be reduced but LOSING BLOOD SUPPLY
      • Extremely tender and abnormal exam
      • Needs emergent surgical consult
Esophageal Varices
  • Classic presentation
    • Hematemesis/Melena
    • Chronic liver disease (hepatitis, alcoholics)
  • Treatment
    • Fluid bolus if hypotensive
    • Octreotide
    • Ceftriaxone
    • Transfuse blood as needed
      • If hemoglobin <7 transfuse
      • If patient actively bleeding and level <8 transfuse
  • Consult GI for endoscopy
Hepatic Encephalopathy
  • Common findings
    • Altered mental status
    • Asterixis
    • Elevated ammonia level
  • Treat with lactulose or rifamixin
Peptic Ulcer Disease
  • History
    • Hematemesis or Melena
    • Epigastric abdominal pain
    • Chronic NSAIDS or steroids
  • Treatment
    • PPI (such as pantoprazole)
      • Works better than an H2 blocker
Cholecystitis
  • RUQ ultrasound
    • Thickened gallbladder wall
    • Distended gallbladder
    • Pericholecystic fluid
    • Obvious impacted stone
  • HIDA scan
    • Inject radioactive material
    • Absorbed by hepatocytes
    • Secreted into biliary tree into small intestine
      • If gallbladder not visualized
        • Cystic duct obstruction
      • If common bile duct cannot be visualized
        • Choledocolithiasis
Ascending Cholangitis
  • Charcots Triad
    • Fever
    • RUQ Pain
    • Jaundice
  • Patient requires ERCP (gastroenterology consult)
  • Give antibiotics
Acute Pancreatitis
  • Diagnosis
    • Classic description
      • Epigastric pain radiating to back
      • Severe vomiting
    • Lipase
      • >3x upper limit of normal is diagnostic
    • CT scan to look for complications of pancreatitis
Additional Reading