HOMO SAPIENS DISEASES - GASTRO-INTESTINAL APPARATUS (GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY)
(see also physiology of gastro-intestinal apparatus)

Table of contents :


Anatomical classification :  Symptoms, signs, and syndromes :  Web resources


Diseases of gastrointestinal apparatus (both gastroenterological and of adnexed glands) represent the 3rd leading cause of both morbility and mortality worldwide.

Diseases of the esophagus

Laboratory examinations : Diseases of the stomach/ gastropathy / gastrosis Laboratory examinations : Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) Diseases of liver => hepatism (ill health due to liver disease) Laboratory examinations : Web resources : Diseases of biliary ways Diseases of the gall-bladder Laboratory examinations : Diseases of the exocrine pancreas Laboratory examinations : Diseases of the small bowel Laboratory examinations : Diseases of the large bowel Diseases of the peritoneum
  • diseases of the retroperitoneum
  • pneumoretroperitoneum : the presence of air or gas in the retroperitoneal space
  • retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) / Ormond's disease : deposition of an often asymmetric fibrous plaque in the retroperitoneal space at the level of L4-L5, of thickness varyin from some mm to 6-12 cm, reaching the external border of psoas muscles (that are rarely involved), inglobating ureter(s) and large blood vessels.

  • Epidemiology : retroperitoneal fibrosis occurs most commonly in the fifth and sixth decades with a 2:1 male-female predominance.
    Aetiology : Symptoms & signs : dull, non-colicky pain in the back, flank, or abdomen (90%), and often causing blockage of the ureters, with resultant hydronephrosis and impaired renal function, which may result in renal failure. Other symptoms include weight loss, non-specific gastrointestinal complaints, and uncommonly, lower extremity edema, malaise, and dysuria. Laboratory studies may be
    Laboratory examinations : normal in 25% of patients, but 55% of patients will have an elevated blood urea nitrogen. Diagnosis is most commonly suggested by intravenous pyelography. The combination of medial deviation of the ureter, hydroureteronephrosis, and extrinsic ureteral compression at abdominal X-rays are highly suggestive of retroperitoneal fibrosis. CT scanning or MRI can both define the level of ureteral involvement and depict the mass appearance of the fibrotic process. Exploratory laparotomy with multiple deep biopsies of the retroperitoneal process is an essential part of diagnosis, since foci of carcinoma may be sparse within the predominately sclerotic reaction.
    Therapy : identify and deal with potential causative agents, relieve the ureteral obstruction, and reverse the inflammatory-fibrotic process. Renal obstruction may need to be relieved acutely, either by retrograde ureteral stents or by percutaneous nephrostomy tubes. Long-term resolution of ureteral obstruction most frequently has been accomplished by operative freeing of the ureters from the fibrosis (ureterolysis) and displacing them laterally or within the peritoneal cavity. Although renal function is improved in more than 90% of cases so treated, in as many as one-third of patients, ureteral obstruction recurs on the ipsilateral or contralateral side.
    Prognosis for patients with nonmalignant retroperitoneal fibrosis is good. Survivals of 86-100% for several years have been reported.
  • desmoid tumor
  • Diseases of the rectum
  • Diseases of the anus
  • Nélaton's tumor : a dermoid tumor of the wall of the abdomen
  • rectus sheath hematoma : arterial or venous bleeding into the rectus sheath, most commonly from arterial bleeding

  • Epidemiology : predominate in women by a ratio of about 3:1. The mean age of incidence is in the late fifth decade.
    Aetiology : Symptoms & signs : abdominal pain is almost always described at presentation. Pain is often described as severe and usually is exacerbated by movements that require muscular contraction of the abdominal wall. On examination, there is tenderness over the rectus sheath, voluntary guarding, and often a diffuse mass sensation in the area of tenderness. Contraction of the rectus muscle exacerbates the pain and tenderness. Peritoneal signs are absent. Ecchymosis may occur but usually appears several days after the onset of pain. In cases where the hematoma dissects or originates inferiorly and expands into the prevessicle and preperitoneal space, the hematocrit may fall significantly; however, hemodynamic instability is distinctly unusual. When the intraabdominal source of pain is unknown, ultrasound and particularly CT can delineate the hematoma and localize it to the abdominal wall in almost all cases.
    Treatment must take into consideration the cause, if known, and whether the hematoma is stable or progressive
  • gridiron abdomen : one criss-crossed with scars from multiple surgical procedures, such as may occur in severe forms of Munchausen syndrome.
  • abdomen obstipum : congenital shortness of the rectus abdominis muscle.
  • pendulous abdomen / venter propendens : a relaxed condition of the abdominal wall, so that the anterior abdominal wall hangs over the pubis
  • boat-shaped, carinate, navicular or scaphoid abdomen : an abdomen whose anterior wall is hollowed out; seen in children with cerebral disease
  • hydraulic abdominal concussion : abdominal injury produced in persons in the water by violent underwater explosions
  • celoschisis / abdominal fissure : a congenital cleft in the abdominal wall
  • abdominal fistula : an abnormal passage leading from one of the hollow abdominal viscera to the surface of the abdomen.
  • enteric or enterogenous cyst / enterocyst / enterocystoma : a cyst of the intestine arising or developing from some fold or pouch along the intestinal tract
  • intraluminal cysts : duplications of the bowel, or retention cysts, which are an infrequent cause of intrinsic obstruction in the newborn.
  • mesenteric cyst : a congenital thin-walled cyst of the abdomen between the leaves of the mesentery, which may be of wolffian or lymphatic duct origin; as it enlarges, it may cause colicky pain and intestinal obstruction.
  • omental cysts : cysts similar in all respects to mesenteric ones except that they are confined to the omentum.
  • umbilical or vitellointestinal cyst : a cystlike tumor at the umbilicus, caused by persistence of a portion of the umbilical duct
  • gay bowel syndrome : an assortment of sexually transmitted bowel and rectal diseases affecting homosexual males and others who engage in frequent anal intercourse; it is caused by a wide variety of infectious agents.
  • infectious intestinal disease (IID)
  • abdominal hernia / ventral hernia sensu latu / laparocele sensu latu

  • Aetiology : Localizations :
  • intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) represent one of the most common clinical problems in hospital practice, especially in surgical areas and centers of intensive care.
  • Treatment : draining of abscesses and empirical antimicrobial therapy (IDSA guidelines)ref :
  • abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS)

  • Aetiology : BMI, massive fluid resuscitation, renal and coagulation impairment are not reliably associated with IAHref Pathogenesis : => increase in volume of the peritoneal and retroperitoneal contents => intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH / IAHT) (intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) > 20 mmHg) => Symptoms & signs : end-organ dysfunction
    Laboratory examinations : Therapy : abdominal decompression via decompressive laparotomy, temporary abdominal coverage (TAC) with PVC bag, and subsequent abdominal wall reconstructions may cause ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI)ref : octreotide, by controlling the reperfusion of abdominal organs and inhibiting neutrophil infiltration, could improve IRIref1, ref2. Abdominal fascial release could be useful in treating ICH after traumatic brain injury (TBI)ref. Abdominal decompression with skin grafting and delayed fascial closure initially decreases patient perception of physical, social, and emotional health, but subsequent abdominal wall reconstruction restores physical and mental health to that of the U.S. general population. Abdominal decompression does not prevent return to gainful employment and should not be considered a permanently disabling conditionref.
    Prognosis : poor outcome (mean survival rate = 53%) with most deaths resulting from sepsis and multi-organ failure (MOF), even when treated promptlyref.
    Prevention of ACS after laparotomy by adoption of an open abdomen approach may be preferable in the patient at significant risk of developing intra-abdominal hypertension, but this has not been demonstrated in any large trials. Most surgeons prefer to adopt a 'wait and see' policy, only intervening when clinical deterioration is associated with a significant increase in intra-abdominal pressure.
  • gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) (previously classified as benign or malignant smooth muscle tumours) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract and arise from interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC)

  • Epidemiology : male-to-female ratio 1.1:1, typically present in adults over 40 years (median age 55-60 years) and only exceptionally in children
    Aetiology : Macroscopic anatomy : submucosal and serous nodules (protruding inward or outward when large)
    Laboratory examinations : spindle- or polygonal-shaped tumor cells, perivascular hyalinization, mild pleomorphism, IHC (CD117 / c-kit+ (100%), nestin+ (90-100%), CD34+ (70-80%), SMA+ (20-40%), heavy caldesmon (80%), desmin-, S100-). True smooth muscle tumors, GI-schwannoma and undifferentiated sarcomas are the most important differential diagnoses.
    Localizations : Therapy : Prognosis : disease control is initially achieved in 80-90% of patients, with only 10-15% of patients dying in the first year following the occurrence of metastases, while the median overall survival was < 12 months with previous treatment options. Malignancy directly relates to mitotic index and size (benign when size < 5 cm or mitotic index < 5 per 50 HPF) : however, mitotically inactive intestinal tumors can metastasize, and gastric tumors are in average less often malignant than the intestinal ones. Metastatic disease (hepatic and peritoneal metastases) has average survival of 20 months, local recurrence has average survival of 9-12 months

    Polyphagia / polyphagy
    Aetiology :

    Dysphagia / dysphagy / aphagopraxia : difficulty in swallowing (for solid food only : organic disorder; also for liquids : functional disorder) with sensation of stenosis in upper oesophagus Pathogenesis : Localization : Regurgitation : passive movement of bitter or acidic food from oesophagus or stomach into mouth without nausea nor fits of vomiting
    Aetiology : Rumination
    Aetiology : Nausea and vomiting Dyspepsia : impairment of the power or function of digestion; usually applied to epigastric discomfort following meals => difficult (long) digestion, eventually accompanied by nausea and vomiting, belching, headache, palpitations and/or abdominal pain after meals Abdominal pain hydroperitoneum : ascites, or abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity

    Ascites / hydroperitonia / abdominal or peritoneal dropsy / hydrops abdominis : effusion and accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity

    Acute intestinal subocclusions ‡
    Intestinal occlusions Tenesmus Dysentery : emission of faeces containing mucus, PMN leukocytes and RBCs, fever, severe systemic toxicity, severe abdominal pain and cramping, tenesmus, responsive to absorbable and parenteral antimicrobials, affects mainly the colon. Aetiology : Diarrhoea / enterorrhea :
    Epidemiology : an estimated one in 3 people worldwide suffer annually from a food-borne disease, and 1.8 million die from severe food and waterborne diarrhea, mostly in the developing world. Children, people who are malnourished and those with weakened immune systems are most vulnerable.
    Timing : Pathogenesis : Symptoms & signs : no systemic toxicity, minimal abdominal pain and cramping, responsive to non absorbable antimicrobial agents, affects mainly small bowel. Laboratory examinations : Therapy : expected weight = current weight . (100 + presumed fluid losses) Web resources : Encopresis : involuntary defecation without organic failure of anal sphincter, often associated to enuresis

    Fecal incontinence : incontinence of flatus, liquid stool, or solid stool that has an impact on quality of life, varying in severity from minor faecal soiling to frank incontinence of solid stoolref
    Epidemiology : prevalence of 11-15% in the communityref. These figures have to be interpreted with caution because the relevant studies are hampered by possible under-reporting and, more importantly, by a lack of a consensus definition.
    Aetiology :

    Laboratory examinations : when a patient presents with this symptom we need to establish the degree of debility and obtain an obstetric historyref. Inspection of the anal canal and digital rectal examination is essential. Anal skin tags associated with haemorrhoids can hinder adequate toilet, and poor anal tone implies a defect in the anal sphincter. Diminished sensation and lack of anal contraction or "winking" indicate an underlying neurological condition.
    Therapy : although damage to the anal sphincter must always be considered, most patients do not have a serious physical disorder requiring intensive investigation and surgery. In a few patients these measures will be insufficient, and referral for testing of anorectal physiology and endo-anal ultrasonography becomes necessary. These investigations provide objective measures of sphincter pressures, anorectal sensation, rectal capacityref, and sphincter defectsref. A continence adviser can then help most patients by providing support and advice on diet, lifestyle, and pelvic floor exercise. Thereafter pelvic floor physiotherapy and biofeedback—in which patients are taught effective muscle contraction in response to information from a manometric or electromyographic rectal probes—are the mainstays of therapy. In unresponsive patients with a noteworthy sphincter defect, surgical repair will produce a good outcome in 60-90% of patients, but unfortunately the results deteriorate with timeref. When surgical repair fails or is inappropriate and where biofeedback is ineffective 3 options remain for severely symptomatic patients : Chronic constipation (< 3 evacuations / week) Eructation / belching : casting up of wind from the stomach through the mouth

    Burbulence : gaseousness; a group of symptoms of intestinal origin, including ..

    Aetiology : Laboratory examinations : Therapy : anti-flatulents

    Gastrointestinal hemorrhages

  • Laboratory examinations :
  • Therapy :
  • Web resources :
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