Biliary Tree
fatty foods trigger CCK release and lead to gallbladder contraction which creates intermittent pain after eating
Biliary colic is typically triggered by what type of food?
This is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis in the UK.
Gallstones
this is the most common presenting symptom of acute appendicitis
central abdominal pain progressing to the right iliac fossa
This is the definition of an abdominal aortic aneurysm in terms of aortic diameter.
Why is an aortic diameter of 3.0 cm or more important?
This is the most common cause of small bowel obstruction in adults.
What is the correlation between adhesions and small bowel obstruction?
When pain is elicited by placing the hand in the RUQ and asking the patient to take a deep breath. It indicates gallbladder inflammation.
what is Murphy's sign?
This blood test, often elevated to more than three times the upper limit of normal, supports the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis
Serum amylase
this clinical sign is positive when pain is felt in the right lower quadrant upon palpation of the left lower quadrant
This modality is used in men aged 65 and over to offer a one-time screening for AAA in the UK
What is an abdominal ultrasound?
On an abdominal X-ray, small bowel obstruction is indicated by central, dilated loops and these characteristic features.
What are valvulae conniventes?
RUQ pain, fever and jaundice
What 3 signs make Charcot's triad?
often mistakenly given to patients with pancreatitis
antibiotics
This point, located one-third of the way from the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus, is classically tender in appendicitis.
What is McBurney’s point?
This genetic connective tissue disorder of fibrillin-1 causes changes to elasticity of connective tissue and is associated with both thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms
What is the connection of AAA and Marfan syndrome?
This condition is a twisting of the bowel on its mesentery, commonly affecting the sigmoid colon or caecum, and can lead to large bowel obstruction.
What is volvulus?
This procedure is the gold standard for both diagnosis and treatment in patients with ascending cholangitis
What is ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography)?
moderate ecchymosis around the umbilical area suggestive of intra-abdominal bleeding often due to haemorrhagic pancreatitis
What is Cullen's sign?
In children and pregnant women, this initial imaging test is preferred due to the absence of radiation.
Why use ultrasound?
This type of aneurysm involves all three layers of the vessel wall and is the most common form seen in AAA.
What is a true aneurysm?
This sign is seen on plain film x-ray where air is seen under the diaphragm
What is pneumoperitoneum?
This rare complication of gallstone disease involves external compression of the common hepatic duct by a gallstone impacted in the cystic duct or gallbladder neck.
What is Mirizzi Syndrome?
This scoring system, using factors such as age, WCC, and calcium, helps assess the severity of acute pancreatitis within 48 hours of admission.
What is the Glasgow-Imrie score?
This complication of delayed or missed diagnosis of appendicitis can result in a walled-off collection and may require percutaneous drainage instead of immediate surgery.
What is an appendiceal abscess?
This type of surgical repair is increasingly used for ruptured AAA and involves inserting a stent graft through the femoral arteries.
What is EVAR (Endovascular Aneurysm Repair)?
This device is inserted and used alongside other initial management options to reduce nausea and vomiting in bowel obstruction
What is a ryles tube?